Empty stands were a common sight at Pizza Hut Park this year. (Getty Images)

I hope everyone is getting use to the longer days again after the time change this weekend. Nothing like getting darker a bit earlier again here but that's just how it goes. I have a few goodies to discuss tonight leading off with a big time look at something former Chicago Fire GM Peter Wilt sent Alexi Lalas a few years back.

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First of all, wow, what a peach of a game in Seattle tonight. The classic exciting 0-0 game. No, it wasn't a work of art, and yes, Houston fouled up and down the field. I fully expect Sounders fans to turn Rave Green into Rage Green, and I don't blame them one bit. Still, it was pretty exciting.
Fine, the LA-Chivas USA matchup. Click to continue reading...

Ryan Johnson was one of the few bright spots for San Jose in 2009. (Getty Images)

It's hard to decline as a club after being an expansion team in 2008 but the 2009 version of the San Jose Earthquakes did just that. They became the first team to lose more in their second season than in their expansion season.

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Ramiro Corrales signed a new deal with San Jose that will keep him with the Quakes past the 2010 season. "Ramiro has been an important part of our team the past two seasons and throughout his career," General Manager of Soccer Operations John Doyle said. "He is an extremely versatile player who has filled a number of roles here through the years. Click to continue reading...

The end of the regular season has put me in a contemplative mood. Not only because I am left trying to figure out how the San Jose Earthquakes missed the postseason again, but because I am asked to fill out my 2009 MLS Awards Ballot. Following the Quakes as closely as I do, I enjoy access to players and coaches from all MLS teams as they make their way through Buck Shaw Stadium.

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The playoffs are a week away but seven MLS clubs still remain in the running for three open spots, including one automatic birth from the eastern conference. This week's rankings saw a few shifts including FC Dallas' on-going run up the boards and possibly into the playoffs.

Elsewhere on the board we saw Toronto gain a little grown while Colorado and Chicago continue to slip.

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With only four games on the docket this international week, you wouldn't expect much movement on the Pile. But it's an indication of just how tight things are that even four games, two involving the going-nowhere Quakes, would prompt some... Click to continue reading...

Week 31 (10/13)

Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...

1. Columbus (1): The Crew knocked off the Revs on the road, so they stay at #1.
2. Chivas USA (2): The Goats held strong @ home so they will also be staying put.

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The Rapids just sent out a press release with the header, "A Special Message From Conor Casey." Swear to God, I thought it was going to be him rapping, "Tell me, how my ass taste?"
Also sent out today - a press release reminding the world that nine teams are still vying for the playoffs. Click to continue reading...

A short weekend in Major League Soccer saw a couple things take place. The Columbus Crew inched closer towards their second straight Supporter's Shield trophy (and another birth into the CONCACAF Champions League) and Toronto FC's stumble nearly towards elimination.

SUPPORTER'S SHIELD RACE
Columbus (28) 13-5-10, 49 points (at DC, vs.

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FC Dallas defeated the SJ Quakes 2-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium in the Quakes last home match of the season, a thriller that accelerated until the final whistle. FCD's Jeff Cunningham added a goal and assist to his tally atop the MLS Golden Boot leader board, and Quakes rookie Quincy Amarikwa netted his first regular season goal. Click to continue reading...

Jeff Cunningham will have to continue his MVP form tonight in San Jose.

You want some playoff type drama? Good because tonight's midweek clash between San Jose and Dallas offers just that. Win and continue on in a the little hope of reaching the playoffs, lose or tie and you season is pretty much over.

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Week 30 (10/07)

Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...

1. Columbus (1): The Crew finally lost @ home, but still lead the race for the Shield.
2. Chivas USA (3): Preki's Goats got a huge W @ RFK and have the most games left.

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New England goalkeeper Matt Reis starts to lean to his right as Rapids striker Conor Casey takes aim for the other side of the net in the 58th minute on Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

On Sept. 18, Rapids striker Conor Casey scored a second-half goal on a penalty kick at San Jose.

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With six games left in the regular season, the San Jose Earthquakes notched their first away win, a 2-1 triumph over DC United. The victory broke a 20-game winless streak on the road going back to June 7, 2008. "It was a long time coming," Quakes coach Frank Yallop said. "We have been very close recently to getting a win on the road. Click to continue reading...

Running around a bit today, so here's a feel-good story. I hadn't read this comment in full when I posted my story about De Ro scoring the golden goal; amazing how resonant it was north of the border. Here's Duane Rollins in his own words:
That game hooked me. I was writing for a B. Click to continue reading...

Week 29 (09/30)

Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...

1. Columbus (1): The Crew blanked the Gals and took another step toward the Shield.
2. Houston (2): Houston had a bye last week, so they will not be moving this week.

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Not sure why you'd want to imitate Maradona these days.
Might be shot by accident.
Pretty funny though.
To the links:

• One crazy road trip. [Off the Post]
  
• Brian McBride Q&A. [Goal! NY Times]
  
• Where are all the EPL draws? [Unprofessional Foul]
  
• The week's best quotes and chants.

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By TRAVIS CLARK

The Columbus Crew once again came away empty handed in a Group C match against Cruz Azul. Two first half goals from the visitors were enough as Columbus fell 2-0. Click to continue reading...

Colorado's Jacob Peterson goes flying after colliding with Andre Luiz in the first half Wednesday. (photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

You've got to be kidding. For the second time in less than a week, Conor Casey scored on a penalty kick deep into extra time as the Colorado Rapids tied the San Jose Earthquakes 1-1.

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Same opponents, different day. The Colorado Rapids face another vital game tonight against the San Jose Earthquakes, a team they played in California only this past Friday, somehow escaping with a crucial point thanks to Conor Casey's 95th minute penalty.
That vital point after such a tough game will no doubt boost the Rapids as they seek to secure three points against the basement team in the Western Conference and reach the long-discussed 40 point watershed. Click to continue reading...

Plenty of MLS clubs will be interested in tonight's mid-week clash at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as the Colorado Rapids host the San Jose Earthquakes. Plenty of clubs want Colorado out of the playoff picture while San Jose is hoping to not just play the role of spoiler but go on a crazy run of wins to get them back into the playoffs for the first time in a few years.

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The King is gone, long live king Hucks, but the San Jose Kingdom remains. Tonight the Colorado Rapids will have a go against the San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium, looking to solidify a berth in the playoffs. This may be a pivotal engagement for the Quakes, their first match after Darren Huckerby's retirement. Click to continue reading...

Fabio da Silva is no longer a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. The Brazilian defender was on the Quakes' books less than a month, appearing in two exhibition games. He originally signed with San Jose on August 18th after spending 2009 with Brazil's Rio Branca. da Silva was part of Red Star Belgrade's Serbian Cup winning squad in 2007. Click to continue reading...

Week 26 (09/09)

Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...Â

1. Houston (1):Â Due to some terrible scheduling, only 6 teams played last week.Â
2. Columbus (2): So, this entire Week 26 Power Rankings is an exercise in futility.

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Week 25 (09/02)

Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...Â

1. Houston (2): HOU lost and doesn't really deserve to rise, but CMB must fall. Â
2. Columbus (1):Â The Crew lost to the Red Bulls.

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The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that forward Cornell Glen and midfielder Simon Elliott were called up for national team duty. Glen is on Trinidad and Tobago's roster for two important World Cup qualifiers, while Elliott will play for New Zealand in a friendly against Jordan. Click to continue reading...

When a soccer player turns thirty-five, it is generally considered that his best days are behind him. There are exceptions to the rule and Steve Ralston [left] would be one of them. His goal in Saturday's match that helped the New England Revolution beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 is his seventh of the MLS season. Click to continue reading...

From the San Jose Earthquakes Front Office, midfielders Arturo Alvarez and Ramon Sanchez have been named to the roster for the El Salvador national team for two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches in September. The players will join their national team teammates following the Quakes match this Saturday, Aug. Click to continue reading...

Episode 107 of the Major League Soccer Talk podcast features reports and post match audio from correspondents Brian Zygo in Houston, Chris Riordan in Columbus, Robert Jonas in San Jose and Daniel Feuerstein in New Jersey. We hear interviews with among others, Dominic Kinnear and Juan Pablo Angel.

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There has been a lot of focus in Major League Soccer on the expansion success stories of the past three years Toronto, Seattle and even the surprisingly solid Salt Lake but one new team sticks out like a sore thumb: rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference standings and with an attendance average barely scraping five figures at Buck Shaw Stadium, 2008 expansion team the San Jose Earthquakes are not looking so rosy.

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Decidedly minor league Buck Shaw Stadium may be the home of the Quakes for the foreseeable future.
Remember this article about San Jose's stadium plans? Well it turns out that the only reason we will see those ultra secret stadium renderings is because the process has stalled to the point where the owner is questioning whether to built it at all. Click to continue reading...

From the San Jose Earthquakes Front Office, the team announced today that the club will host legendary Salvadoran side Club Deportivo Aguila on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The game will be held at Buck Shaw Stadium and will be season ticket holder bonus game "B."
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p. Click to continue reading...

According to Elliott Almond of the San Jose Mercury News Soccer Twitter (click here for the his twitter), the San Jose Earthquakes have signed 29 year old Brazilian defender/defensive midfielder, Fabio (Carleandro) Da Silva. He has played for Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade and well-known Brazilian clubs Sport Club Do Recife and Nautico. Click to continue reading...

This man is running back to the Houston Dynamo, tout de suite!
From the San Jose Earthquakes Front Office, the team announced today that the team has acquired an international slot from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for defender Ryan Cochrane.
Cochrane appeared in 21 games and scored two goals the past two seasons with the Earthquakes after coming to the team in the 2007 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft. Click to continue reading...