Monday, October 23, 2017

San Jose delivers in the clutch and a postseason berth



With no doubt the San Jose Quakes saw an all-around improvement in their game after a troubled campaign and a long absence in the postseason since 2012, they earned it today with authority.

What a way to close the regular season in Major League Soccer, with a bang in several fronts and today in Avaya Stadium the Quakes did it in style and with an all fighting spirit of not giving up, despite the resilience of the visiting Loons.

The visiting Minnesota squad already eliminated from the postseason but still putting on a fight to finish in a much notable position in the end of this campaign, as many predicted that this squad to end in the bottom of the Western conference.

For Adrian Heath Loons, closing the campaign in these parts of Silicon Valley and with their one thing in mind to play the odious role of spoiler and deny the locals the pleasure of advancing to the postseason.

Today the fighting spirit displayed by an inspired San Jose initial eleven was something to applaud at the end as these did not gave upon their quest of rewarding their all-around efforts with a win and a much deserved pass.

So far, in the final stretch of this campaign, struggling squads of the likes of Dallas FC, Real Salt Lake and the Quakes did put on a display of might and perseverance in each one of their matches and at the end, the California Boys prevailed.

Still for Chris Leitch taking over in June a total disaster and a lack of positive results team, the first signs of life for the Goonies was in the US Open Cup by defeating the Seattle Sounders, elevating the team confidence and game.

Considered as an interim the Quakes front office will be mad if they do not give, an extension to Leitch contract as the man did put order to a broken system left unfortunately by Dominic Kinnear and this chap did some improvements for the better.

By instituting order and giving the players their self-confidence.

Taking over the managerial position for San Jose, many of the young prospects started seeing some playing time and voila, the turnaround in just a few months and despite posting a 6-8-2 record, the squad results visibly shown.

In a sold out Avaya Stadium that saw a display of a much-disputed match between these two titans as if these were playing a final or a trophy in play and at the end the San Jose prevailed.

Still In the case of the visiting Loons, these did put on a fight!

With the opening score of the game, the Quakes with a combination of Florian Jungwirth to Danny Hoesen opening the score in the 15 minute, cruising to a lead that was cut short in the 36 when Jerome Thiesson scored a beauty and equalizer.

When the second started, the Quakes via their Talisman Chris Wondolowski assisted by Danny Hoesen with 55 minutes in the clock for the Quakes lead, but the Loons via Francisco Venegas and Francisco Calvo finishing the feat the score tied at 2-2.

As many thought that the game was to end tied and the locals maybe miss their only chance to net their ticket to the postseason, on injury time the ultimate of miracles happened when a well-placed Wondo deliver the pass to Marco Ureña for the final 3-2.

Sending the whole of Avaya Stadium into a frenzy after seeing the display of efforts put in the field by their Quakes going to the posts of Bobby Shuttleworth all afternoon long until the final score that gave this club the last ticket to the postseason.

On the campaign the Quakes had the better part of the Whitecaps on March 11 these defeated them to a 3-2 score at Avaya and at BC Place on October 15 these draw at one a piece.

Now for Leitch and company its back in business as he has a new task ahead in the first round of the playoffs knockout rounds on Wednesday 25th to play against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place.

  
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved

Photos Credit and Property of San Jose Earthquakes  and ISI Photography  2017

Photos Credit and Property of © 2017 Major League Soccer 

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