Simon Dawkins celebrates his first MLS tally in the San Jose Earthquakes' 2-2 draw against the Seattle Sounders. Photo: Joe Nuxoll, centerlinesoccer.com
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(Santa Clara) The San Jose Earthquakes battled back twice Saturday night, earning a well deserved point from a 2-2 tie with the Seattle Sounders. Khari Stephenson brought San Jose back from their second deficit of the match with a 30-yard blast, an early candidate for goal of the year.
“A terrific strike by Khari,” San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. “It was an exciting game. I felt a little unlucky we didn’t get the win.”
Seattle had scored just once in their first three matches, and with their explosive forward Fredy Montero sidelined (due to surgery on his right wrist), the packed house at Buck Shaw Stadium might have expected a low scoring affair. Instead, they were treated to end to end action as the teams traded goals throughout the match.
The Earthquakes started with the same 11 that beat Dallas last weekend, a 4-1-4-1 formation that had Simon Dawkins starting in Stephenson’s midfield slot. Stephenson had missed last weekend’s game due to Jamaica national team duty, but both he and Dawkins would figure prominently in the outcome Saturday.
Seattle opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Erik Friberg fed Mauro Rosales inside the penalty area, and Rosales took it to the right end line before rolling a pass across the face of goal. Brad Evans beat Chris Leitch to the ball and banged it in from point blank range.
Simon Dawkins evened the score at 1-1 with his first MLS goal. Just past the half hour mark a nice interchange in midfield led to Bobby Convey slipping a pass through to Dawkins, who was racing into the penalty area. From the left side, Dawkins turned and hit it first time, beating Keller low to the far post.
“A great run and great finish by Simon,” Yallop said. “Somebody other than Wondo scored, thank God for that.”
Chris Wondolowski had scored the previous 12 San Jose goals in regular season play, setting an MLS record in the process.
Seattle was back on top ten minutes later. Steve Zakuani, dribbling in from the left wing, lifted a pass to O’Brian White just inside the six yard box. Earthquakes’ goalkeeper Jon Busch had no chance as White beat Jason Hernandez and buried the header.
San Jose almost found the equalizer in first half stoppage time. Chris Leitch, after a nice touch to get around a defender, slid a pass to Joey Gjertsen inside the penalty area. Open from 10 yards our, Gjertsen didn’t get enough on his first time shot to beat Keller, and the Quakes went into intermission still down a goal.
Both teams made a line up change to start the second half. Seattle had Avaro Ferandez replace Erik Friberg, while San Jose brought Khari Stephenson in for Gjertsen.
The Earthquakes’ move paid off quickly. In the 52nd minute, Stephenson let one fly from 30 yards, a rocket that Keller could only get a finger to as it hit the right top corner of the net to even the score at 2-2.
Both teams had their chances to take all three points, but couldn’t hit the target in the games closing minutes. Ike Opara, a 69th minute substitute for Chris Leitch, had a role in opportunities for both teams.
In the 74th minute, A Bobby Convey corner kick found Opara eight yards from goal, but his header flew wide right.
Four minutes later, a Mauro Rosales shot was blocked by Opara, and fell to Alvaro Fernandez 10 yards from goal. Fernandez’s shot deflected just wide of the left post.
“We dominated play, against a good team,” Yallop said. “I felt we played well enough to win tonight, and I felt we played well enough to beat Salt Lake (in the season opener), so the signs are good.”
San Jose now prepares to host Toronto next Saturday at Buck Shaw.
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San Jose Earthquakes (1-1-1) at Seattle Sounders FC (0-2-2)
April 2, 2011 – Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 10,276
Scoring Summary: SJ – SEA -- Brad Evans 1 (Mauro Rosales 1, Erik Friberg 1) 17; SJ -- Simon Dawkins 1 (Ryan Johnson 1, Bobby Convey 1) 32; SEA -- O'Brian White 1 (Steve Zakuani 1, Osvaldo Alonso 1) 42; SJ -- Khari Stephenson 1 (unassisted) 52.
Misconduct Summary: SJ -- Chris Leitch (caution; Reckless Tackle) 6; SEA -- Nate Jaqua (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 71; SEA -- Leo Gonzalez (caution; Delaying a Restart) 80.
San Jose Earthquakes – Jon Busch, Chris Leitch (Ike Opara 70), Jason Hernandez, Brandon McDonald, Ramiro Corrales, Chris Wondolowski, Sam Cronin, Simon Dawkins (Scott Sealy 85), Joey Gjertsen (Khari Stephenson 45), Bobby Convey, Ryan Johnson.
Statistics: Shots: 12; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 3; Fouls: 4; Offsides: 3; Corners: 7.
Seattle Sounders FC – Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Leo Gonzalez, Erik Friberg (Alvaro Fernandez 46), Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Mauro Rosales (David Estrada 83), Steve Zakuani, O'Brian White (Nate Jaqua 66).
Statistics: Shots: 17; Shots on Goal: 5; Saves: 2; Fouls: 12; Offsides: 3; Corners: 9.