Photo by Ed Szczepanski/USA TODAY Sports
By AARON CRANFORD
No matter who they seem to face, the San Jose Earthquakes find a way to keep winning.
The Earthquakes are now on a four-game win streak after defeating the LA Galaxy, 1-0, at Avaya Stadium Friday, and for the second week in a row, they earned recognition as SBI MLS Team of the Week.
The impressive run of results has seen them take down Sporting KC and D.C. United along the way.
In the 18th minute of Friday’s California Clasico, Quincy Amarikwa, who has enjoyed a run of good form since moving to San Jose, powered a header on frame, and while Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts saved the attempt, Shea Salinas was stationed next to the right post. He calmly headed in Ricketts’ attempted parry, which would end up being the game-winning goal.
The result keeps them even on points with but just behind the Seattle Sounders, who still hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
San Jose beat out the Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire for this week’s SBI MLS Team of the Week honors.
What do you think about the Earthquakes’ big win? Think they were the best team in Week 26 or would you have chosen someone else? Think San Jose will qualify for the playoffs?
Share your thoughts below.
Granted I’m biased, But the Rapids won 3 games in 8 days , 2 games over Ives purported runner ups as well as SKC. I think they had a better week than the quakes.
Look at the spine of this team.
Bingham is becoming the quality goalkeeper that anyone who saw him at Cal could have told you that he would be. I saw Saunders, Kronberg, Frei and Bingham and there was never a doubt in my mind who the best pro should be.
Bernardez and Goodson are playing superbly as you’d expect from two internationals.
Godoy has simply been a revelation and has made Alashe and now Pelosi look great.
Wondolowski is still a constant goal scoring threat. Its Amarikwa who has surprised me. This guy has incredible desire and has made himself into quality player though hard work and determination.
They were impressive. It was interesting to see Gerrard’s face ever so often. Considering they have all these DPs, it is just amazing that the Earthquakes were able to keep that shutout.
Gerrard can’t run for 90 minutes anymore though he’s far better than Fat Frank at NYC.
You saw the Tottenham version of Dos Santos, which means the crappy one. He’ll have better days though I suspect that teams will review how San Jose handled him.
Keane was really flustered when the calls didn’t go his way and took himself out of the match. Normally his dives earn free’s and penalties.
Salinas looked very good in the game. Didn’t realize how fast he is.
Salinas is a pure 4-4-2 wide midfielder. He never looked comfortable in the 4-5-1 that San Jose was playing because he wasn’t sure when to go forward and when to hold. You see his speed now because he’s confident. Its always been there.
Who would have thought that the recent moves (additions of QA and Godoy) would make such an impact… but they have.