Quakes!

 For the past few seasons I've been an Earthquakes fan. It's been fun this year because just about every game has been televised. I also follow the team, some of the players, and a few soccer reporters on Twitter, so it's easier this year to keep up with all things going on with them.

     I also, as you probably know if you follow my blog, have my own strong soccer opinions...so I've been wanting to blog about the Earthquakes for a week or so now!

     Three games ago, the Quakes went on what was being called the "Rocky Mountain Road Trip". They played games in Colorado and Utah. The Colorado Rapids are always a tough opponent and Real Salt Lake was in first place (notice the word "was"). Road trips in soccer are always difficult and teams are often happy to just pick up a point on the road (a tie score). The Quakes had also had a long break before the road trip and had been without the league leading scorer Chris Wondolowski and a defender Victor Bernardez, who had both been playing for their national team (USA and Honduras), for nearly a month! During that month, the Earthquakes did ok, but lost a close one to Sporting KC, while winning a few Open Cup games.

     The game in Colorado started well, the Quakes looked hungry after a long lay-off and having some of their "stars" back seemed to help...but Colorado scored pretty early. The game went on and the score stayed 1-0 for most of it. Colorado looked REALLY good. The Quakes didn't dominate, but weren't "bad", either. Then, right at the end of the game Alan Gordon came in as a sub. HE SCORED a goal, like he seems to always do at the end of the game (later the 'official' scorer credited as an "own goal"). That was right at the VERY end of the game. Then in STOPPAGE TIME....Gordon was trying to get past the goalie, and the goalie tripped him in the box. PK awarded!!! Wondo took it. I hate penalty kicks, they are SO nerve racking....especially since last time Wondo took one-----he missed! But he kicked it HARD, right in! GAME WINNING GOAL. They beat Colorado after looking like they were going to lose, then just tie, a few minutes earlier!!!!

     Another interesting part of the game against Colorado had to do with the travel plans. The team’s original flight was canceled. So they chartered a small plane to get them to Colorado, but their luggage and equipment wouldn't fit on the plane, so their equipment manager rented a moving truck and drove all their stuff the 20 hour drive to Colorado. Interesting! He was declared the "Man of the Match". REALLY.

    Then their next game was against Real Salt Lake. They had NEVER beaten RSL at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake has only lost at Rio Tinto like twice in its existence. Real Salt Lake is a good team. They controlled the game with their passing and toughness. The score remained 0-0, throughout most of the game. I think a lot of fans were thinking the game would end in a tie. A tie would assure that RSL would stay in 1st place. Quakes didn't want a tie. But, RSL scored on a direct kick from right outside of the 18. The kick was beautifully placed. And the game was sorta over after that, even though there was a little bit of time left. RSL is just good, 1-0 lead is good enough for them! BUUUUUT, Alan Gordon came in as a late sub and guess what he did???? yep, scored ANOTHER late goal. 1-1. The story of this game really was not Gordon...it was the Quakes defense. THREE times RSL had chances RIGHT in FRONT of the goal and defenders headed them away, or blocked them, or got to them RIGHT before the ball crossed the goal line. The score REALLY should have been 4-0. SERIOUSLY. But in came Alan Gordon...and he scored. (Like he always does.) He has 6 goals in 6 games, all of them after the 75th minute. 3 of them game tie-ers 2 of them game winners, I think. Then a bit later....the tv cameras were off showing a replay or something not game action...and Wondo SCORED. It was on a throw in and pass and side foot flick shot...(that maybe the goalie, yeah, probably, shoulda had!!) It was so amazing and exciting! Both games were FUN.

     But last night the Quakes had another game. This time it was a part of a tournament, not regular season action....and they lost! It was very sad. They really wanted to win, I'm sure. I think the key to the loss was that they didn't put away their chances (of course, obvious), but also they really lost their composure! Wondo was angry all game and was yelling at the ref (something I really don't like) and Gordon even got a red card. Someone on the Sounders actually punched an Earthquake player after the game and there was a lot of rough dirty angry play. Seattle won 1-0. They have won the past 3 or 4 "Open Cup" tournaments, so it seems they really like to win that....but I think, as a Quake fan, I can take solace in knowing that this loss wasn't "real"....not part of the real season!

     So, now without hockey to watch, I'm really enjoying the Quakes unbelievable season. They are right now in FIRST place! GO QUAKES!!!!