Post-game press wrap, Columbus edition

The Solar-Powered Soccer Blog is back after a very pleasant sojourn north, and we’re eager to jump back into the fray. First, though, a thank you to Jeff Carlisle and the rest of the crew here for filling in during our absence.

We’ll get to the Earthquakes soon enough, but our first topic will be the Champions League final, after we launch the soundtrack for the day, “The Magnificent Seven.” It comes from the Clash’s appearance 26 years ago today — May 28, 1983— at the US Festival near San Bernadino.

If you were looking for a magnificent 11, the place to be yesterday was Rome, where Barcelona defeated a surprisingly lackluster Manchester United in the Champions League final. With Barca’s patched-up back line, we really expected a ManU victory and would have bet heavily that the English side would at least score a goal, but the Catalan side dominated possession and ultimately won easily. We tuned into a Barcelona radio station yesterday after the match and they were in full celebration mode, broadcasting the play-by-play of the goals over and over in triumph. Even today, the victory is the main topic, as the city basks in the victory.

It all reminds us of better times here in Northern California, the two magical seasons when the Earthquakes hoisted the MLS Cup. Unfortunately, after last night’s loss to Columbus, it’s a lot easier to see those trophies in the rear view mirror than it is to see one in the future at this point.

It wasn’t the Quakes’ worst performance of the year by any means — in fact, the team looked pretty good at times — but the record can’t be ignored. We’re exactly one-third of the way through the season and the team has earned five points from 10 games.  The team’s marketing asks, “What’s a Huckerby?” but we’re left wondering “How’s Huckerby?” in hopes that last year’s savior will be well enough to play soon. At least Jason Hernandez, one of yesterday’s best performers, is back and playing well.

Here’s  the post-game press wrap. Meanwhile, we’re going to tune into that Barcelona radio station again and see if some of that celebratory spirit can make it all the way to San Jose.

- Match reports can be found on MLSnet, Goal.com, and in the Columbus Dispatch.

- Dispatch columnist Michael Arace accuses the Quakes of trying “every physical tactic short of deploying foreign objects” in yesterday’s match, although his main complaints are with the referee.