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SBI MLS Team of the Week: San Jose Earthquakes

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The San Jose Earthquakes have climbed out of their early-season funk and are starting to resemble the team that made a run to the MLS conference finals last year.

Tuesday night's loss in the U.S. Open Cup to the Chicago Fire notwithstanding, the Earthquakes are in the midst of playing their best soccer of the season. After starting the season 1-4-2, the Earthquakes are riding a three-game unbeaten streak — including wins in their last two matches — in league play.

What made Saturday's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution more impressive was that San Jose won without Chris Wondolowski scoring a goal, something that has been a crucial part of its recipe for success. The U.S. national team forward was involved in the first goal, setting up rookie Ellis McLoughlin for the opener, and Bobby Convey added the second to provide Jon Busch and a defense that has conceded just twice in its last three games the cushion necessary to take the three points.

The Earthquakes will look to make it three straight wins in league play by returning the favor against the Fire at Toyota Park on Saturday.

Think San Jose has turned the corner? Which club would be your pick for team of the week?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I guess we should feel lucky that BB for some reason hates Convey more than any person on the face of the planet b/c we are gonna need him while Wondo and RJ are off on gold cup duty. Can you imagine what went through BB’s head when he watched Convey’s free kick goal from last weekend? “Hmmmm… Nope, definitely don’t need a player who can do that on the national team” LOL

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  2. I agree with frank from sf about Yallop’s strategy regarding personnel changes. It seems like only Yallop sees a quality player in the grossly overpaid Sealy. We have two young forwards in McLoughlin and Luzunaris that have shown that they can contribute a lot more than Sealy. Though McLoughlin did suffer a groin injury in the first half. Hopefully he’ll make a speedy return. I cannot take anymore of Sealy’s “play”.

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  3. R U Kidding ME: the sanjose/revs game> revs played poorly but clearly outplayed sanjose—–a very unfair result for N.E. not to mention, a definite missed penalty call- Chris Tierney was on his plant foot as he was about to strike the ball and got fore arm to the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!come on didnt see other game but quakes sucked bad in that one

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  4. Think San Jose has turned the corner? doubt it. as long as yallop keeps making horrible subs and continues to roll out players like sealy and corrales to play important games(any game actually) we’ll continue to be inconsistent.

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  5. I hope they can get a win on Saturday. The Quakes will soon have to rely on their bench with Wondo and Johnson departing for Gold Cup duty. Ampai and McLoughlin should see a lot of playing time in their absence.

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  6. Not that i’m pleased with the Revs’ performance by any stretch of the imagination, but didn’t the visitors on Saturday night have most of the possession (not that it was worth much) and gift San Jose two goals on an unmarked header with a badly missed marking and a poorly positioned wall/goalkeeper that allowed a very good free kick to score (not to mention a dumb foul to cause it)? Maybe their other recent wins have more merit, but there wasn’t much to be impressed about from either side on Saturday.

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  7. SJ has turned the corner for sure. The return of Lenhart has been a huge part of the turnaround after he missed the first 5 matches or so with injury. Convey and Lenhart will need to step up big while RJ and Wondo are on gold cup duty.

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