A record crowd of 41,028 watched as the Earthquakes threw away two points
against the Red Bulls who scored with five minutes left on the clock and to add insult to injury
the Earthquakes had defender Bobby Burling sent off in injury time for a second yellow card.
That five thoughts on the expansion draft post seemed to work pretty well yesterday, so with
time short and you (maybe? hopefully?) interested, here are five more on how the Montreal Impact
might be the new evil geniuses of Major League Soccer.
And they might just be that. Because right now Montreal looks evil, re: Brian Ching, and they
look like geniuses, re: Justin Braun.
Weather: 61 degrees, 13 mph winds with light rain. Otherwise known as sucky.
Surface: Natural Grass
Location: At a monument to the dominant Japanese automaker in Bridgeview, IL
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Line Judges: Brian Poeschel; Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 11,926
Lineups:
Chicago Fire
Coach: Carlos de los Cobos
GK: Sean Johnson
D: Gonzalo Segares
D: Cory Gibbs
D: Yamith Cuesta
D: Bratislav Ristic
LM: Marco Pappa
RM: Dominic Oduro
CM: Logan Pause (C)
CM: Daniel Paladini
F: Diego Chaves
F: Cristian Nazarit
Bench:
F: Orr Barouch
M/F: Gaston Puerari
M: Baggio Husidic
M: Corben Bone
D: Pari Pantazopoulos
D: Dasan Robinson
GK: Jon Conway
San Jose Earthquakes
Coach: Frank Yallop
GK: Jon Busch
D: Steven Beitashour
D: Ike Opara
D: Jason Hernandez
D: Bobby Convey
M: Joey Gjertsen
M: Brad Ring
M: Khari Stephenson
M: Ramiro Corrales (C)
F: Steven Lenhart
F: Chris Wondolowski
Bench:
M: Anthony Ampaipitakwong
M: Sam Cronin
M: Brandon McDonald
D: Bobby Burling,
F: Ellis McLoughlin
D/M: Justin Morrow
GK Andrew Weber
- Lenhart gets lose down the left side but Cuesta is there to take the ball away and kick it long
towards Nazarit.
Stephen Lenhart scored the Quakes 5th hat trick Saturday night against DC United. The 3 goals
push his season total to 4, and Simon Dawkins scored his second goal in two straight games and
Dawkins also has 4 goals on the season for the Quakes. The Quakes are the hottest team in MLS right
now having earned 13 of 15 points in their last 5 games.
In what turned into a fairly physical affair last night at LiveStrong Sporting Park, Sporting KC
made a goal by CJ Sapong stand up for the winner as KC got their first win at their new stadium,
1-0 over the San Jose Earthquakes. KC made only 2 changes to the lineup that beat Dallas 4-1 last
weekend.
Watch Bouna Condoul fumble a run of the mill grab of a corner and gift the ball to Ryan
Stephenson for San Jose Earthquakes equalizer. Last weekend he was similarly embarrassed when he
completely flubbed Marco Pappa's soft shot on goal.
Condoul's horrifically incompetent goalkeeping is a seamless transition from his predecessor
Greg Sutton's equally inept performance.
Jon Busch was having quite a game. The San Jose keeper had made a few really good saves and
the 'Quakes were hanging on at home against Real Salt Lake. Despite being outplayed, it looked
like the home team could grab a point from the match to help their playoff run. Then in the 61st
minute Alvaro Saborio was played through with a great pass and made a move to avoid the San Jose
defenders.
It was one of the more egregious dives seen this MLS season, and now Alvaro Saborio looks like
he could pay a steep price for his action, which drew a penalty and a red card that turned a
scoreless match against San Jose into a 4-0 blowout win.
According to sources within MLS, Saborio stands a very good chance of being suspended for one
match for his tide-turning dive against the Earthquakes last Saturday.
Brad Evans could be that one Sounder that will be picked by Montreal. (Getty Images)
Over the last few weeks I've gone through each of the 18 Major League Soccer clubs and put out
the list of players I could see them protecting and not protecting. Many of you have emailed,
tweeted, sent messages on Facebook to let me know you've enjoyed these lists and that you want a
mock draft from these lists.
Welcome to the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft! We've covered the event quite extensively already here
on Stumptown Footy, but now here's the real deal. Who will the Montreal Impact take? Could Ryan
Pore be on his way out? No more need to speculate as the event kicks off.
I'll be following the event live and updating the thread here with the picks as they come in, as
fast as I can.
The 2011-12 offseason for Major League Soccer is underway today as the 19th club the Montreal
Impact made their ten selections in the Expansion Draft.
Below are the ten players selected:
- Brian Ching (Houston)
- Zarek Valentin (Chivas)
- Justin Mapp (Philadelphia)
- Bobby Burling (San Jose)
- Jed Brovsky (Vancouver)
- Collen Warner (Real Salt Lake)
- Josh Gardner (Columbus Crew)
- Sanna Nyassi (Colorado Rapids)
- James Riley (Seattle Sounders)
- Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City)
Montreal also made a couple deals during the draft as well.
Goat guy: former Sounders favorite James Riley will bring experience and a winning attitude
next season to Chivas USA's back four, which badly needed strengthening, after arriving via a trade
today with Montreal (AP Photo).
Perhaps the most surprising thing to me about today's now-completed Expansion Draft - no players
from the MLS champion Galaxy were among the 10 selected by the Montreal Impact.
The Montreal Impact selected Bobby Burling in the expansion draft yesterday. Head coach Jesse
Marsch played with Burling on Chivas USA from 2007 to 2009. Marsch played as a defensive midfielder
and Burling played as a defender while on Chivas USA. As such, Marsch was happy to select Burling
during the expansion draft.
By AVI CREDITOR
Fans of the Montreal Impact who saw their team labor through a troubling 2011 NASL campaign and
at one point staged a protest against team management probably couldn't forsee the events of this
past week coming.
By opting to build its nucleus around established MLS veterans and a few young players who could
thrive with an opportunity in a new situation as opposed to building around pricey newcomers who
aren't as familiar with the inner workings of the league, Montreal has laid the groundwork to be
far more than a doormat in its expansion season in MLS.
Toronto FC hit the road to face San Jose Earthquakes and came away with their first away point
this season. It wasn't always pretty, but there were some notable strong passages of play. Some of
our new acquisitions are starting to show real promise on the pitch as well. Points away from home
are few and far between for most MLS teams and TFC have always been poor on the road, but for some
reason we seem to do well when we play away to San Jose.
Sebastien Le Toux scored his first goal of the season, doing so from the penalty spot, and the
10-man Philadelphia Union held off the San Jose Earthquakes for a 1-0 result at PPL Park Saturday
afternoon.
Philadelphia was gifted the penalty when Earthquakes centerback Jason Hernandez went to ground
to block an Amobi Okugo cross by the end-line, and referee Mark Geiger deemed that Hernandez
handled the cross.
It took 120 minutes, plus stoppage time, before a winner in this US Open Cup Qualifying Match
could be determined. Ike Opara managed to squeeze a header, or necker if the stories are true, past
a diving Perkins for the game winning goal.
Portland had 10 starters that did not start for them when they played Real Salt Lake over the
weekend.
Yallop had hinted that he was going to make some wholesale changes to the starters in response
to the dispirited games against New York and Chivas USA. Well, Saturday's lineup saw 5 different
starters than against Chivas last week and Yallop went back to the 4-4-2 the team used to great
effect last year.
Frank Yallop called for a players only meeting Monday at 9 am. Yallop was thoroughly disgusted
with the way the team played in last Saturday's 2-1 loss to Chivas USA. In a game Yallop described
as a must-win, he felt the team played poorly and without fire. Yallop also hinted at some drastic
roster changes for this Saturday's match against Philadelphia, "There might be a few [new] guys
starting.
Buck Shaw was packed yesterday for the Northern California leg of the Clasico and the 1906
Ultras and the Casbah were out in force. The game provided plenty of drama as Donovan Ricketts was
injured, sub Josh Saunders was ejected, and midfielder turned replacement goalie Mike Magee proved
strong enough to stave off San Jose's attacks.
The New York Red Bulls are starting to grow accustomed to two things, one painfully annoying,
and one a welcome relief.
The Red Bulls once again watched their goalkeeper commit a goal-allowing blunder, but once again
watched Joel Lindpere step up and help his team find a result.
A record crowd of 41,028 watched as the Earthquakes threw away two points
against the Red Bulls who scored with five minutes left on the clock and to add insult to injury
the Earthquakes had defender Bobby Burling sent off in injury time for a second yellow card.
The final match of the New York Red Bulls' long four game road trip finally came to an end in
San Jose. After a strong second half by the Baby Bulls in their US Open Cup round three matchup
with the USL Pro's FC New York, you would think it would inspire the senior side to do well against
the Earthquakes.
Chivas USA's second Wednesday night game of the season did not prove a crowd crushing experience
driving into Home Depot Center tonight.
And if it hadn't been for the way to many parking lot attendants and unnecessary barriers
preventing you from finding a spot easily and quickly I would have been through the gates even
quicker.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
The Philadelphia Union dominated play in San Jose but could only manage a 0-0 draw with the
Earthquakes in a testy affair on Saturday night.
It was a cagey first half that saw few chances with the best opportunity coming when Danny
Mwanga's low shot was cleared off the line by Bobby Burling.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
San Jose and Vancouver didn't look like two teams a long way from playoff contention Wednesday
night at Buck Shaw Stadium.
In fact, it was almost a shame neither team -- both were in need of a win -- walked away
victorious. Instead, both settled for a 2-2 draw.
The Quakes ended their 4 game streak of being shutout by the opposing team by scoring two goals
against Vancouver. Both goals were scored by Chris Wondolowski, bringing his season total up to 8,
which is good enough to be tied for 4th in the Golden Boot race. Unfortunately the defense fell
asleep a bit Wednesday night by allowing two relatively easy goals for Vancouver, both of those
goals being scoring by Eric Hassli, who is also tied for 4th in the Golden Boot race with 8 goals
on the season.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
In the aftermath of Charlie Davies' dive that earned a penalty against Real Salt Lake earlier
this season, Major League Soccer's discipline committee promised further punishment for future
offenders.
Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio found that out first-hand on Friday, as the league
suspended him one game and fined him $1,000 for his dive last weekend against the San Jose
Earthquakes that deceived referee David Gantar, who called a penalty and gave a red card to Bobby
Burling.
The Quakes host DC United at Buck Shaw stadium tomorrow night at 7:30 pm. The Quakes are on a 7
game winless streak and are coming off a disappointing thumping against Real Salt Lake. They
currently sit 12th in the league table, two spots out of playoff contention. DC United are trying
to make the playoffs as well, but are much closer to making it into the top 3 of the East than the
Quakes are in the West.
Well, there goes the unbeaten streak. The Seattle Sounders lost to the Houston Dynamo 3-1 in
game characterized by high heat, humidity and thuggish play. The referee, Niko Bratsis, is a new
referee this year with only 7 games under his belt as the head referee. The inexperienced showed as
he quickly lost control of the match and the subsequent physical play clearly benefited the
Dynamo.
Well, the Quakes' 11 game winless streak continued after last night's 2-0 loss to the Galaxy.
The Quakes have now not won in the last 12 games, since their 4-2 win against DC United on June 24.
Los Angeles' newest signing, Robbie Keane, opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Mike Magee,
who stymied the Quakes in July while in goal, put the nail in the coffin in the 90th minute.
The Quakes managed to secure another point on the road last Saturday against Toronto FC in
Toronto. The result marked the 13th game since the Quakes recorded a win in MLS, but the Quakes
were lucky to come out of Toronto with the draw they managed. João Plata managed to slip the
offside trap in the second, half thanks to a nice through ball by Ryan Johnson, and beat Jon Busch
to finish, but the linesman ruled Plata to be offside.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
The Houston Dynamo changed their fortunes for the better in the span of a week, capping off
seven days that began with a loss to Sporting Kansas City and progressed with a draw at Columbus
with a 2-1, come-from-behind win over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Robertson
Stadium.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
The Houston Dynamo changed their fortunes for the better in the span of a week, capping off
seven days that began with a loss to Sporting Kansas City and progressed with a draw at Columbus
with a 2-1, come-from-behind win over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Robertson
Stadium.
San Jose Earthquakes (6-11-11) vs. Houston Dynamo (9-9-12)
September 17, 2011 -- Robertson Stadium
Attendance: 18,129
Scoring Summary:
SJ -- Khari Stephenson 4 (Steve Beitashour 5, Joey Gjertsen 3) 40
HOU -- Brad Davis 4 (penalty kick) 47
HOU -- Will Bruin 5 (Luiz Camargo 1, Danny Cruz 3) 79
San Jose Earthquakes -- Jon Busch, Steve Beitashour, Nanna Attakora, Bobby Burling,
Ramiro Corrales, Joey Gjertsen (Jacob Peterson 63), Sam Cronin (Maxwell Griffin 82), Rafael Baca,
Simon Dawkins (Matt Luzunaris 83), Khari Stephenson, Chris Wondolowski.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
Winning was what they wanted. Losing was what they absolutely could not do. But a draw was what
happened for the Portland Timbers Wednesday night at Jeld-Wen Field, a difficult result to take
since Portland let its lead in the game slip away.
By AVI CREDITOR
When Dwayne De Rosario fell to the ground flailing after hardly being contacted by Juan Pablo
Angel on a cross and flicked-on header into the Chivas USA box in second-half stoppage time of a
crucial game on Wednesday night, most figured the D.
Sporting KC had a chance to really move away from some of the teams in the Eastern Conference, but
some poor finishing on the few chances created against the San Jose Earthquakes kept them from
taking all 3 points. In a game that was fairly unexciting for much of the game turned wild in the
85th minute as San Jose grabbed the lead only for Teal Bunbury to equalize 30 seconds later to give
the teams a share of the points.
Kasey Keller's night was nearly perfect. He is ending his club career in a fashion where anyone
would be happy for him to still be playing. From saves of snap headers, to a sequence that is
reminsent of that epic match against Brazil he was as good as he's even been in MLS. Opportune
finishing by Sammy Ochoa tied the game and started the climax of an amazing night of soccer and
spectacle.
Who will be saved and who will be left unprotected for San Jose? (Getty Images)
I am back on the expansion draft list bandwagon this afternoon. I've been working here and there
this week on compiling several club's lists. Currently I am only working on teams that are
eliminated from playoff contention though next week we'll have plenty more as teams fail to advance
in the post season will be up to eight and then up to 12 when the wildcard round ends.
