Quakes turn back the clock on Burn
Sporting red NASL Earthquakes throwback kit to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Quakes, Ramiro Corrales gave the home side an early lead before a Cory Gibbs own goal accidentally doubled the advantage before the half. Brian Ching put the nail in the coffin with his league-best 11th goal of the season as the Quakes leapfrogged Dallas into the fourth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.
It took the home side just four minutes to take the lead, when Corrales notched his second goal of the season on an assist from Landon Donovan. Ronnie Ekelund collected a long pass over the top and passed to Donovan, who then laid the ball back to Corrales at the top of the box and he hammered home a shot inside the far post.
Burn coach Colin Clarke was forced to make a goalkeeper change in the 12th minute when starter Jeff Cassar saved Ekelund's shot from close range with his face. Some good combination play from San Jose sent the Dane in on the right side of the area, but he put his shot into Cassar's mug. Backup 'keeper Scott Garlick was thrust into the the action as Cassar's eye began to swell shut almost immediately.
San Jose's lead was doubled in the 24th minute on the own goal. Corrales slipped by Ronnie O'Brien on the left and tried to cross the ball into the box. As Garlick moved to his left to collect the cross, Gibbs tried to block the cross, but instead knocked the ball into the net past a wrong-footed Garlick.
The best chance of the half for Dallas came right before the break. Jason Kreis worked a nice give-and-go with strike partner Eddie Johnson on the right flank and decided to have a go from just inside the box, though Bobby Rhine was waiting all alone on the opposite side without a defender in sight.
Ching then finished off a gorgeous combination for the Earthquakes in the 52nd minute to put the game away. Ekelund began the play with a square pass to captain Richard Mulrooney, who chipped the ball into the box for Ching. The Hawaiian striker knocked the ball back to Donovan, who then cleverly touched it back to Ching for him to blast it past Garlick for his league-leading 11th goal of the season.
Dallas looked to inject some attacking punch into the game with a pair of substitutions in the 68th minute. Oscar Pareja and Toni Nhleko -- the pair that combined one week prior to score a late game-winner against the MetroStars -- replaced Rhine and Kreis respectively. Nhleko took a rip on target with practically his first touch, but Earthquakes goalkeeper Pat Onstad punched it away with no problems.
Corrales was denied his second of the night in the 75th minute thanks to a great save from Garlick. Ekelund was again in on the act as he raced into the box before dumping the ball off to Corrales and his hard shot was heading to the right corner, but Garlick got down quickly to knock it to safety.
It wouldn't matter in the end though, as home side held on for a comfortable win, the Burn following a victory with a loss for the third consecutive time.
San Jose has a busy week ahead, as they face the the Kansas City Wizards in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday on the road before returning home to host the Colorado Rapids next Saturday at 10 p.m. ET (HDNet). Dallas also takes the field next Saturday as they return home to face the Chicago Fire at 8:30 p.m. ET.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Ramiro Corrales (San Jose Earthquakes)
Dallas Burn (8-9-5) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (8-7-6)
August 21, 2004 -- Spartan Stadium
Scoring Summary:
SJ -- Ramiro Corrales 2 (Landon Donovan 8, Ronnie Ekelund 3) 5
SJ -- own goal (Cory Gibbs) 24
SJ -- Brian Ching 11 (Landon Donovan 9) 52
Dallas Burn -- Jeff Cassar (Scott Garlick 12), Carey Talley, Cory Gibbs, Steve Jolley, Chris Gbandi, Ronnie O'Brien, Simo Valakari, Brad Davis, Eddie Johnson, Jason Kreis (Toni Nhleko 68), Bobby Rhine (Oscar Pareja 68).
Substitutes Not Used: Matt Behncke, Eric Quill.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Ronnie O'Brien 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Ronnie O'Brien 3); FOULS: 21 (Bobby Rhine 4); OFFSIDES: 5 (Toni Nhleko 3); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Brad Davis 2); SAVES: 3 (Scott Garlick 2)
San Jose Earthquakes -- Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Troy Dayak, Todd Dunivant, Brian Mullan, Ronnie Ekelund, Richard Mulrooney, Ramiro Corrales, Brian Ching, Landon Donovan (Wes Hart 89).
Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Agoos, Arturo Alvarez, Chris Brown, Jon Conway, Dwayne De Rosario, Tighe Dombrowski, Eddie Robinson, Ian Russell.
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Ramiro Corrales 3, Ronnie Ekelund 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Ramiro Corrales 2); FOULS: 19 (Ryan Cochrane 4, Brian Mullan 4); OFFSIDES: 3 (Landon Donovan 3); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Richard Mulrooney 7); SAVES: 5 (Pat Onstad 5)
Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Ryan Cochrane (caution; Professional Foul) 35
SJ -- Ramiro Corrales (caution; Tackle from Behind) 38
DAL -- Jason Kreis (caution; Pushing, Holding) 42
DAL -- Bobby Rhine (caution; Reckless Foul) 62
DAL -- Chris Gbandi (caution; Tackle from Behind) 73
SJ -- Ryan Cochrane (caution; Professional Foul) 88
SJ -- Ryan Cochrane (ejection; Second Caution) 88
DAL -- Steve Jolley (caution; Reckless Foul) 91+
Referee: Ali Saheli
Referee's Assistants: -Greg Barkey; David Bragg
4th Official: Yader Reyes
Attendance: 10,020
Time of Game: 1:55
Weather: Clear-and-70-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
