San Jose Earthquakes Defeat the Kansas City Wizards in Pre-season Game
After beating Real San Jose (3-0) last Saturday, and losing the first of 2 games against Kansas City last Wednesday (0-3), the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Wizards (1-0) yesterday night in their third pre-season game.
The game was played in 3 periods of 45 minutes.
The winning goal was scored after only 2 minutes by the newly signed Brazilian forward, Eduardo. His header found the top corner after Andre Luiz served a free kick into the box.
The other recent signing, midfielder Joey Gjertsen, was also involved in the goal as he was fouled in the first minute of the game and obtained the winning free kick.
As we were not at the game, for more details, here is the official San Jose Earthquakes press release:
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The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Kansas City Wizards 1-0 on Saturday morning at the Arizona State University Soccer Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. This was the second time the teams faced off this preseason, with Kansas City taking the first match 3-0 on Wednesday in Phoenix. The match was split into three 45-minute periods of play.
Newly signed midfielder Joey Gjertsen drew a foul in the opening minute of the game, and it helped set up the game’s only goal. It was the second minute of play when midfielder Andre Luiz served his free kick into the box, where he found another newly signed player, Eduardo. His glancing header searched out the top corner, leaving Kansas City goalkeeper Patrick Hannigan helpless for Eduardo’s first goal in an Earthquakes uniform.
San Jose’s lead held up the remaining 133 minutes plus stoppages, as they turned out a much improved defensive effort from the two teams’ encounter on Wednesday. Mike Graczyk and Andrew Weber teamed up for the shutout. The first 67 minutes saw the first game action for Quakes third overall pick Ike Opara, who joined the Quakes in camp late Tuesday night.
For the first two periods of play, San Jose carried the majority of the possession, and seemed to create most of the chances. Gjertsen helped spring the attack again, when he found Arturo Alvarez, who nearly doubled the Quakes lead when he slipped through three defenders, and ripped his shot from just inside the penalty area off the outside of the post.
San Jose left the Phoenix area immediately after the game returning to the Bay Area to continue the next phase of their preseason training. They will then be traveling to London on Thursday, March 4 and will return home on Sunday, March 14. San Jose will train at partner club Tottenham Hotspur FC’s training facility and will play a couple of friendlies while across the pond. The Earthquakes open their season on Saturday, March 27 at 6:00 p.m. PT at home against the defending MLS Cup Champions, Real Salt Lake.
Scoring Summary: SJ - Eduardo (Andre Luiz) 2.
San Jose Earthquakes First half (67 minutes) – Mike Graczyk, Evan Brown, Bobby Burling (Brandon McDonald 45), Ike Opara, Ramiro Corrales, Joey Gjertsen (Trialist 45), Brad Ring, Andre Luiz (Simon Elliott 45), Arturo Alvarez, Eduardo, Cornell Glen.
Second half (67 minutes) – Andrew Weber, Chris Leitch, Aaron Pitchkolan, Brandon McDonald (Troy Roberts 90), Justin Morrow, Trialist (Steve Beitashour 90), Simon Elliott (Trialist 110), Ramon Sanchez, Bobby Convey, Quincy Amarikwa, Chris Wondolowski.
Kansas City Wizards – First 45 minute period – Patrick Hannigan; Chance Myers, Chris Gbandi, Jimmy Conrad, Roger Espinoza; Birahim Diop, Alexei Casian, Mauro Fuzetti, Korede Aiyegbusi, Igor Kostrov, Teal Bunbury (Zoltan 31).
Second period – Boris Pardo, Rich Costanzo, Chris Gbandi, Nick Cardenas, Michael Harrington, Kevin Souter, Graham Zusi, Kurt Morsink, Nelson Pizarro, Michael Kraus, Zoltan.
Third period – Alex Horwath, Jonathan Leathers, Aaron Hohlbein, Matt Besler, Michael Harrington, Davy Arnaud, Santiago Hirsig, Graham Zusi, Ryan Smith, Josh Wolff, Kei Kamara.
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