Earthquakes winless streak reaches nine as De Rosario brace beats San Jose 2-0
(Santa Clara, CA) San Jose’s slide continued Saturday night as two second half goals from Dwayne DeRosario lifted DC United past the punchless Earthquakes, 2-0. The shutout loss stretches the Earthquakes’ winless streak to nine games, and their goalless streak to 216 minutes and counting.
The last time San Jose faced DC, back on June 11, Steven Lenhart scored a hat trick to lead the Earthquakes to a 4-2 victory and lift them above the break even mark (a 5-4-4 record) for the first and only time this season.
My, how times have changed.
San Jose has not won since that night, and have scored a total of four goals over the past nine matches. With a 5-8-9 record, the ‘Quakes’ 24 points has them 13th overall in the league, three places shy of a playoff spot.
“Losing at home is never good,” San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. “We didn’t move the ball. We were tentative, and played nervous. Some of our guys take plays off, which is disappointing. We got to talk about it, and address it, but it’s got to be in the players to be really fighting for their lives right now. Some guys didn’t tonight.”
San Jose made two changes from the starting eleven that faced Salt Lake last week. With Bobby Burling sitting out a red card suspension, Ramiro Corrales was back in the line up at center back. Alan Gordon logged his first minutes in a San Jose shirt, starting at forward and pushing Chris Wondlowski to left midfield where he replaced Rafael Baca.
DC came into the game with problems of their own. They had managed just one win in their previous eight matches, and were missing much of their attack Saturday as Josh Wolff (hamstring) and Joseph Ngwenya (injured in a collision during training Tuesday) did not dress for the game, and team-leading scorer Charlie Davies (knee inflammation) watched from the bench.
In a forgettable first half, DC had most of the ball, out shooting San Jose 6-2 without managing to put a single shot on goal. Meanwhile, San Jose’s first shot didn’t come until the 40th minute, when a diagonal ball from Jacob Peterson found Alan Gordon just inside the penalty area for a snap header that was hit straight at DC goalkeper Bill Hamid.
DC regained the initiative after intermission, and broke through in the 57th minute when from just shy of midfield Andy Najar sent a long ball forward to DeRosario. The Canadian international brought the pass down and fired from the top of the arc, beating San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch cleanly to put DC ahead 1-0, breaking DC’s scoreless streak at 266 minutes.
San Jose made a couple of changes after that DC goal. Joey Gjertsen came on for Scott Sealy, playing left midfield and moving Chris Wondolowski up to forward, then Matt Luzunaris replaced Khari Stephenson in midfield, but the moves had little effect. Just after the second change, DC doubled their lead when Chris Pontius teed up DeRosario at the top of the penalty area for a blast that hit the top right corner of the net.
“This was as close to a must win tonight as you can get,” Jon Busch said. “It was there for the taking at 0-0 at halftime. We talked about DeRo being a game changer, and DeRo changed the game in the second half, we didn’t.”
“I thought at half time we had a chance to get something out of the game,” Yallop said. “On the first (goal), Nana (Attakora) slips and Dwayne smashes it in. The second goal was out of the blue, a great finish. That’s why he gets paid what he gets paid.”
With 20 minutes still on the clock, a long ball from Sam Cronin found Joey Gjertsen ahead of the pack, and when Andy Najar brought Gjertsen down from behind referee Mark Kadlecik went straight to his pocket, giving Najar a red card and San Jose an opportunity to get back in the game.
But the Earthquakes offensive struggles continued. In the 80th minute, a pass slipped through the DC defense, giving Chris Wondolowski an open shot on goal from 10 yards, but he was denied by a kick save from the DC ‘keeper.
“Enough is enough,” Jon Busch said. “We’re professionals, we have to find a way to win games. There’s no more excuses. We get paid to win games, period. Some days it’s a lack of energy, some days it’s a silly mistake, but we put ourselves in bad situations. It doesn’t matter who (is in the lineup), we as a team have to start winning games.”
San Jose will get their chance to get back on the winning track when they host the expansion Portland Timbers next Saturday night.
(Photo: Joe Nuxoll, centerlinesoccer.com)
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (5-8-9) VS D.C. UNITED (6-6-8)
July 30, 2011 – Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 10,525
Scoring Summary: DC — Dwayne De Rosario (Andy Najar) 57; DC — Dwayne De Rosario (Chris Pontius) 66.
Misconduct Summary: SJ — Alan Gordon (caution) 37: DC — Andy Najar (ejection) 70: DC — Austin Da Luz (caution) 79.
San Jose Earthquakes — Jon Busch, Tim Ward, Ramiro Corrales, Nana Attakora, Jacob Peterson, Sam Cronin, Khari Stephenson (Matt Luzunaris 66), Bobby Convey, Chris Wondolowski, Scott Sealy (Joey Gjertsen 58), Alan Gordon (Anthony Ampaipitakwong 73).
Stats: Total Shots: 12; Shots on Goal: 2; Saves: 3; Fouls: 9; Offside: 4; Corner Kicks: 5.
D.C. United — Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen, Dejan Jakovic, Brandon McDonald, Daniel Woolard, Andy Najar, Stephen King, Clyde Simms, Chris Pontius (Ethan White 89), Blake Brettschneider (Austin Da Luz 73), Dwayne De Rosario (Brandon Barklage 84).
Stats: Total Shots: 13; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 2; Fouls: 10; Offside: 6; Corner Kicks: 4.
You guys are still doing player of the game when we lose? No one is player of the game when we lose. And haven’t won in 9 games.
Same with Yallop’s post game comment? Who likes to hear his blah-blah explaining the reason behind every loss? The reason of the Great Disaster of 2011 is that Yallop failed to recruit any outstanding player during pre-season and FO continued with the same mediocre coaching staff. What is the point in talking now about DeRo “That’s why he gets paid what he gets paid.”? Where was the wisdom when the whole world knew that DeRo wanted to leave TFC? Can some one please please buy couple of calculators for JD and FY? They seem not to be able to figure out how much salary cap Quakes have left, even after spending $157K for Sealy.
I’d like to see a “none of the above” option in the player of the week poll. FIRE DOYLE AND YALLOP NOW!
Agree
It’s late in the season but not to late for a new Manager.
He is not able building a MLS Team.
Couldn’t agree more! These guys just aren’t getting the job done and have gotten the benefit of the doubt for too long. Fire them both. Who is out there that we could realistically hire in their place? Bob Bradley is unemployed lol.
Took two friends to the match who one of them only has been to Bundesliga the other was his fiancee who has never been to a live soccer match in her life. Her comments were amazing and insightful.
1) Alan Gordon looks like he knows what he is doing, unlike most of the other Quakes on the pitch
2) Do the Quakes actually do sprints in their training because they don’t seem to know how to run and guard the box?
3) The forwards and midfielders don’t have an understanding of where people should be or where to expect the ball
4) Does the backline not have studs on their cleats, because they shouldn’t be falling down as much as they are
5) I see what you mean about #9; he really isn’t good… well he is good about kicking the ball out of bounds.
6) I thought professional soccer players would know how to pass the ball between them
7) Do the Quakes not realize they have to possess the ball to actually have a chance to score a goal.
And when the Quakes were kicking it way out of bounds, “Wow they want the beer ppl to feel apart of the game too”
And my favourite comment from both of them: “I bet you a home ticket for the rest of the season that #9 (Scott Sealy) will score a goal in the 90th minute but of course it will be on accident, like oh what is this flying at my head let me get it away from me and it lands back of the net.” They were very sad when I took the bet and then FY subbed him out.
They are still wanting to come to the game next week. Have to give a shout out that they enjoyed the Casbah’s tailgate and were excited to win a Soccer Silicon Valley scarf from the players’ fines raffle. :)
In all likelihood, the rest of the season is now a mere formality. The Quakes have 12 games left to play. For sake of argument, let’s just say they somehow manage to win half of those. Even under such an unlikely scenario, they would end the season with 42 to 45 points (depending on ties). Last year, they grabbed the final playoff spot with 46 points. In other words, the Quakes, for all intents and purposes are out of the playoff race. The interesting question now is whether there will be any accountability for the coaching staff and front office having failed to make the playoffs in three out of four years, and for having taken such a giant step backwards since last year. As passionate supporters, we deserve better. How long does ownership stick with the same old approach that is so obviously not working? Frank Yallop has many positive qualities as a coach, and John Doyle has pulled off some good moves over the years.. But the bottom line is that they are not getting the job done, and it’s time to let someone else take their turn.
reboot this team now!!!
fire yallop & doyle now!!!
we still won’t make the playoffs but rebooting now will go a long way in retaining season ticket holders for 2012. leaving it until the end of the season or not at all will create a wait and see attitude with sth and many won’t take the bait.
When the Quakes get the ball they look at each other like, “now what?” Other teams automatically go into a pattern to maintain possession and advance the ball. I see the problem as structural more than related to individual players. We are watching very bad soccer. I can’t stand Yallop’s constant blaming of players for not playing hard enough. The problem is the lack of an effective offensive plan other than “kick it long and hope.” Yallop is a “player’s coach” and has had some success, but since the Quakes have been back they have not comprehensively built a team that can compete. We have NO offense whatsoever, other than the individual brilliance of Wondo. Problem is the FO probably will not want to mess with Doyle/Yallop during the time of transition to the new stadium.
US got rid of Bradley. Yallop/Doyle next? Hope so, despite the awkwardness of doing it at this time in the team’s history.
If Yallop is not fired by the end of the year I will not renew my season tickets. The play is boring, opposing teams continue to bring the low end forwards to start knowing that the Quakes are horrible at home and play to tie and hope to not lose. I agree with the statements above that there is no visible game plan other than bunker down in defense and launch the ball forward, blah. The Quakes do not play good intelligent soccer that is fun and exciting, and that is a reflection of the coach not the players. I would prefer both Yallop and Doyle were fired but will settle for at least Yallop which will show that the FO is committed to building a team that can compete and be fun to watch. It Is not worth my time and money to drive an hour and half to watch the Quakes in their 2011 form when I can watch it at home.
my small list of replacements
Ronnie Ecklund
Ronald Cerritos??
Richard Gough
Walter Smith (Go Rangers)
I like the idea of Ronnie Ekelund.
I think every team has figured out that all we do is pass to the wing and have them fire the ball back inside. I forgot who had an open shot at goal if he shot it straight at goal (he was in the middle, all he had to do is run straight a few yards and kick) but instead he goes and passes to wing for the wing to pass it back inside and BMac laughing knew this was what was going to happen and voilà shot blocked/intercepted.
Every team KNOWS our play book since it only contains one play… OK, really there are three if you count pass to right wing, pass to left wing, & fall down when near the ball. (the latter is good for both offensive and defensive plays.)
Wow, brutal comments … but oh so true. It is long past time for Doyle and Yallop to be shown the door. The longer they stay, the more season ticket holders we will lose. It’s not about salvaging this season, it’s about preserving the fanbase. The team needs to demonstrate that failure is not acceptable. This team is terrible. I don’t blame the players, they are poorly trained, poorly led, and coached to pursue negative tactics. Whatever mojo Frank once had, he as clearly lost it. We need a new coach right now. Not an interim, not one of Ian or Mark or Jason. We need a new coach from outside this organization. Probably a new GM too, but Frank absolutely must go.
I’m betting if we fail to win next weekend, they’re gonna pull the trigger on FY. They’ve got nobody to blame but themselves for extending both JD & Yallop’s contract after one fluke run and having a baseball guy try to run the club. I feel pretty certain some of my seats won’t be renewed as my friends are English fans and used to far better. Hell, I USED to be used to far better. Now I just get drunk before the game and laugh/cry until it’s over…
same here..
The time for FY to go has long past. The style of play is boring and player effort is poor. Any sane franchise makes a change long ago. FY stays and this STH goes – along with many others.
Both Doyle and Yallop must go, together they are the problems that haunt this team, together they should be shown the door. Before it’s too late, FIRE THEM BOTH!
Truth!