Cannon’s heroics save a point for San Jose in Toronto

Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon saved a point for the team on Saturday in Toronto. File photo: John Todd, centerlinesoccer.com/isiphotos.com.

(Para este articulo en español, haz clic aquí.)

Ever since the Earthquakes had a goal improperly called back in their opening match against Los Angeles, fans have been wondering when the team’s luck would change. Today may have been the day, as Joe Cannon’s save of an Amado Guevara penalty kick gave San Jose a well-earned point in a scoreless draw with Toronto FC at BMO Field.

Anyone expecting a gradual introduction of San Jose’s new signings to the lineup was in for a big surprise, as Darren Huckerby, Francisco Lima, and Scott Sealy all made the Earthquakes’ starting eleven. Sealy partnered Ryan Johnson up top, while Huckerby lined up wide left, with Lima and Ramiro Corrales paired in central midfield. Huckerby and Johnson switched spots throughout the first half, putting another wrinkle in the Earthquakes’ attack. The big surprise for TFC was the presence of Abdus Ibrahim, Toronto’s 16-year-old phenom, in the starting lineup.

Missing were Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop, suspended for a match after his expulsion last week against Colorado, as well as San Jose defender Nick Garcia and Toronto midfielder Maurice Edu, out due to yellow card accumulation. Assistant coach Ian Russell took the reins for Yallop.

With so many new faces on the field, the Quakes ran the risk of disjointed play, but San Jose’s coaching staff was betting that the quality brought to the team by the players would outweigh any disadvantages from their lack of familiarity. It didn’t take long to see the value of that thinking, then, when Corrales put Huckerby through on Toronto keeper Greg Sutton in the 13th minute. Sutton lost the race to the ball but was able to get his sizable frame behind Huckerby’s shot, saving a certain goal.

Meanwhile, Toronto look to attack through the speedy Ibrahim, with Amado Guevara and Rohan Ricketts his main providers. The youngster was unable to capitalize on any of his early chances, however, firing one shot wide and being flagged for offside on another opportunity.

In the 17th minute, Eric Denton pushed a ball over the midfield that landed at Johnson’s feet, setting up a quick give-and-go with Sealy that forced Toronto midfielder Marco Velez to take Johnson down just outside the TFC penalty area. Ronnie O’Brien took the initial free kick, which was blocked about two yards away by Ibrahim, who had left his position in the Toronto defensive wall well before the ball was kicked, earning him a yellow card for his eagerness. On the re-take, O’Brien faked a kick by running over the ball and Lima took the shot, but the Brazilian got under it too much and it curled harmlessly over the net.

Ibrahim’s speed continued to pose a challenge for San Jose defenders, however, and Jason Hernandez needed a handful of red jersey to slow down the youngster as they chased a Laurent Robert through ball in the 26th minute, earning Hernandez a yellow card and Toronto a free kick from about 30 yards. Guevara’s attempt at goal soared over the net, however.

It was San Jose’s turn to win a free kick in the 30th minute, after Corrales once again put Huckerby in on goal with a well-placed through ball. Marvell Wynne caught up to the Englishman just outside the box but what was probably meant as a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge ended up being a push in the back, giving the Quakes a chance from about 22 yards. Wynne redeemed himself by blocking the ensuing Corrales free kick.

In the 33rd minute, Toronto managed to squander their best opportunity to that point. Some sparkling combination play brought the ball from Jim Brennan on the left side to Wynne on the right, with the speedy right back then firing a cross into the six yard box. Quakes keeper Joe Cannon dove to punch the ball clear but it fell directly to Guevara at the penalty spot. The Honduran midfielder was unable to capitalize, however, when he put his left-footed half-volley into the seats behind the goal.

Pulses quickened again in the 43rd minute. Guevara picked up a loose ball at midfield and pushed the ball forward for a sprinting Ibrahim, but Earthquakes defender Eric Denton won the footrace to the ball and put it into touch.

The match remained scoreless at the break, but Toronto nearly broke through in the 51st minute. Robert beat Corrales on the dribble and carried the ball through the center circle before slotting a diagonal through ball behind the San Jose defense to Ricketts, who was kept onside by Ryan Cochrane. Ricketts took two touches on the ball, carrying it into the San Jose penalty area, but before he could either shoot or cross to Ibrahim, an onrushing Cannon snared the ball in a dive.

Lima’s MLS debut came to an end in the 63rd minute, with Kelly Gray coming on for San Jose, and Kei Kamara came on for Huckerby a minute later. Both newcomers had made a favorable first impression with their composure on the ball and Huckerby was able to demonstrate that he still has the speed to get behind any defender, even Wynne.

“It was tough,” Huckerby said after the match. “(I’ve only had) three days training in two months so it’s very hard to get into the game, but like I say the first one’s out of the way now. I’m looking forward to getting back and start playing a few home games and we’ll see how it goes.”

Referee Paul Ward, who was serving as the man in the middle for just his second MLS match, was turning in a good performance as well until a potentially game-changing call in the 68th minute. Toronto’s Robinson floated a ball from midfield into the San Jose penalty area. The ball was cleared easily by Eric Denton, who headed it harmlessly away, while behind him Johnson and Toronto’s Wynne raced towards the net in case Denton missed it. As the sprinting duo arrived, Johnson was sandwiched between Wynne and Ibrahim and Ibrahim went down, a fall that Ward rewarded with a penalty kick despite the fact that Ibrahim hadn’t challenged for the ball and Denton had won the header easily.

Guevara blasted the spot kick to the left side of the San Jose net, but Cannon anticipated the shot perfectly with a dive to that side, parrying the ball with both hands and allowing James Riley to clear the rebound. No one should be happier with Cannon’s heroics than referee Ward, whose mistake was reduced to minor footnote status with the save.

Toronto tried to give their offense a boost in the 7oth minute as Jeff Cunningham came on for defensive midfielder Tyler Rosenlund, and the Quakes responded by taking a more defensive posture, frequently playing nine men behind the ball. Toronto maintained possession for much of the next 10 minutes, but every attack was broken up whether it was with a header or a timely tackle. San Jose’s occasional counterattacks resulted in a pair of corner kicks, one of which Kamara met with a header that went just narrowly wide.

San Jose nearly snatched all three points in the 89th minute, after a combination of passes from O’Brien, Kamara, and Corrales allowed Sealy a shot near the penalty spot. His right-footed blast was deflected slightly by Velez, taking the sting out of the ball and allowing Sutton to make an easy save.

“We got a point on the road although we were under pressure. We kind of held our own, got a point and that’s good,” said Russell, Yallop’s stand-in for the match. “Our defense has been good all year. We’re hard to score against, but we just have a hard time scoring and hopefully we’ll fix that. We’ve got some new players so it’s got to help.”

“We brought three new players in and put them straight into the team, we haven’t had much time to train together or get to know what each other wants to do or where they want to play, so as far as things to today, I think it’s a pretty fair result,” O’Brien told HDnet’s Marcelo Balboa. “I think for the most part this year, our performances have been pretty good. I think we’ve been unlucky, and then we have sort of a problem scoring goals, so (Yallop)’s brought in a forward and Huckerby can play up front, too, so that’s practically two forwards, and you know Lima has had some great experience around the world, so hopefully that’s going to help us out. ”

The Quakes next take the field on Sunday, July 27, at Buck Shaw Stadium against the New York Red Bulls.

San Jose Earthquakes (3-9-5) vs. Toronto FC (6-6-4)
July 19, 2008 – BMO Field
Attendance: 20,264

Scoring Summary: None

Misconduct Summary: TOR – Abdus Ibrahim (caution) 18; SJ – Jason Hernandez (caution) 27;

San Jose Earthquakes — Joe Cannon, James Riley, Ryan Cochrane, Jason Hernandez, Eric Denton, Ronnie O’Brien, Francisco Lima (Kelly Gray 63), Ramiro Corrales, Darren Huckerby (Kei Kamara 64), Scott Sealy (John Cunliffe 94+), Ryan Johnson.

Statistics: Shots 4; Shots on Goal 2; Saves 3; Fouls 9; Offsides 5; Corner Kicks 2.

Toronto FC –  Greg Sutton, Marvell Wynne, Marco Velez, Tyrone Marshall, Jim Brennan, Rohan Rickets, Carl Robinson, Tyler Rosenlund (Jeff Cunningham 70), Laurent Robert, Amado Guevara, Abdus Ibrahim.

Statistics: Shots 11; Shots on Goal 4; Saves 2; Fouls 8; Offsides 2; Corner Kicks 5.