Blanco 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Saying that the Quakes didn't play such a bad game after a 2-0 loss against a less than impressive team may sound awkward. However, tonight's performance by San Jose, far from being excellent, was much better than last week's loss (1-3 at home against Toronto)
They didn't deserve to win, but if it was not for Cuauhtemoc Blanco (1 assist, 1 goal) who completely changed the run of the game when he replaced Peter Lowry, they would have obtained a deserved point from their trip to Chicago.
One can regret that they waited for the first goal to really try to shake Chicago's defense, but after last week's terrible performance, the confidence was low and trying to get one point from a road game wouldn't have been a bad result.
Frank Yallop had decided to change his usual 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1 with Chris Wondolowski as an offensive midfielder/second forward. That is not the way the head coach likes to play, but it was important for his team to find some confidence and winning possession in the midfield was probably the best way to do so.
After suffering a lot in the first 15 minutes, the Quakes started to take advantage of their density in the midfield and, without being brilliant, came back in a game that could have turned either way.
Antonio Ribeiro, Arturo Alvarez, Darren Huckerby and Chris Wondolowski were very aggressive and focused on their tasks and did their job.
That was until Blanco came in with 30 minutes to go and put the Earthquakes defense on fire. After threatening the Quakes many times, he finally found Patrick Nyarko in the box. Blanco's ball between the back of the defenders and Joe Cannon was so perfect that Nyarko just had to slightly deflect it to beat the Quakes' keeper. (1-0, 82')
The Quakes then tried everything to equalize and, in the injury time, willing to make good use of one of their last weapons, the Quakes lost the ball 30 yards from the goal in the center. Wilman Conde inherited the gift and transmitted it to Chicago's number 10 who magically chipped the ball above Cannon who could only deflect it in his own goal (2-0 90'+1)
With a better result, tonight's performance, again, far from being impressive, could have been considered as the first step of the Earthquakes' convalescence.
Instead, it will remind them of their difficulties to bring the ball and create chances in the opposition's box.
Fighting spirit and more solidarity, especially in the midfield are 2 ingredients the Earthquakes need. If playing 4-5-1 can help them gaining confidence, it is probably something to continue and even improve with a real 5th midfielder. Ribeiro, Alvarez (who, it is not new, would be more comfortable in the center or on the left than on the right wing) and Wondolwski had an interesting game today. McDonanld in central defense, may have found his best role.
These are good points but it won't be enough. New signings are expected soon. They need to bring some freshness and some skills to the roster or the end of the season will be very difficult.
