Quakes Turning to Bingham in Playoff Hopes

SAN JOSE, Calif. — When David Bingham takes the field on Friday night at Avaya stadium, it will have been 13 days since he last saw action. The 101 saves the first-year starting goalie  has recorded are currently enough for fourth best in all of the MLS — and the Quakes hope to milk the most out of him during the final two games as the team looks to keep its MLS Cup Playoffs hopes alive.

He made four saves during the Quakes 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Oct. 3. Perhaps Bingham’s greatest moment of the match — leaping on top of a loose ball during a 2-on-1 breakaway in the 94th minute — was one that garners him no statistical credit.

"It’s so nice to have David back there," Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski said. "He’s so quick. Great job coming off his line to save that. He’s very good at breakaways; he’s a very good goalkeeper. We owe him that one."

It’s been a long road for the 25-year-old, who made his first Quakes start in what always amounts to the most dramatic matches for the club, and possibly the most heated MLS rivalry — California Classico versus the Los Angeles Galaxy.

It was familiar territory for Bingham though, as he had appeared in the match three years prior after veteran keeper Jon Busch injured his eye during a first half collision. Bingham played about 45 minutes in that match, made a number of timely saves, and cemented his name in Quakes history during the dramatic 4-3 victory.

He posted a clean sheet, which included one of the most crucial saves of the game against David Beckham. At the time, it was just his third MLS appearance.

These days, Bingham has grown into the role as the clubs full-time starter. The Quakes cut ties with Busch — a starter for more than four years for the club — to usher in the Bingham era.

While playing every minute this season — and being the only player to do so — he was the captain of the Quakes August record of 4-1-1, something thats surely kept their playoff hopes alive. During that streak, Bingham recorded five clean sheets, including four shutout victories to close out the month.

Bingham became just the third goalkeeper in league history, and first in the last 10 seasons, to record four shutout victories in a row.

Quakes fans might have received another jolt of excitement as the end of the season draws near. Anyone who is familiar with the "powers" of "Based God" rapper Lil B, knows what this means:

@SJEarthquakes @MLS @AvayaStadium thank you San Jose legends I will be seeing you to support my Bay Area team - Lil B

— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) October 4, 2015

"I think he’s had a really good season," head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "It’s still a relatively young career, and as long as he’s open to improving and listening to our goalkeepers coach, he’s only going to get better."