How 'bout them Earthquakes!
The grand opening of Avaya Stadium was the must-attend event of the season, and the 18,000-plus in attendance did not go home unhappy (unless they were parked in the Gold Lot...). First-ever MLS goals by rookie Fatai Alashe and Ty Harden were enough to give San Jose its second successive victory and moved the team into second place in the Western Conference.
MLS commissioner Don Garber was in attendance, as were numerous Quakes dignitaries past and present. Krazy George jumped out of an oversized drum and a parachutist missed the mark and landed in the neighboring Lowe's parking lot. The rebranded San Jose Ultras unveiled a monster-sized tifo before the game that most certainly rallied the troops, and the LOBINA had a crowd of patrons more than three-deep until last call was sounded in the 75th minute.
The match marked the reunion of head coaches Dominic Kinnear and Frank Yallop -- not for the first time, but definitely for the most important time. The fans raised the roof when the Quakes scored, and the stadium rocked every time the Ultras jumped up and down in unison, definitely registering on the stadium seismograph.
It was a day to celebrate for the young and old: The San Jose Earthquakes had finally completed their long march home.