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San Jose Earthquakes
at
D.C. United
Saturday, April 3, 2004
R.F.K Stadium
Washington, D.C
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 3, 2004) —
On a day that saw 14-year-old prodigy Freddy Adu make his professional debut, D.C. United received a vintage performance from forward Jaime Moreno that gave the home side a 2-1 victory over the defending MLS Cup champion San Jose Earthquakes on opening day in the official kickoff to the 2004 Major League Soccer season on Saturday afternoon.
The sellout crowd of 24,603 at R.F.K. Stadium witnessed MLS history in the 61st minute as Adu entered the match, while Moreno brought back memories of the glory days for United with a goal and an assist as Peter Nowak celebrated victory in his first match as D.C. head coach.
After a cautious start to the game by both sides, United broke open the scoring in the 12th minute through Moreno, who officially signed with the club on Friday and made his return to United after a one-year stint with the MetroStars. After drawing a foul on the left attacking flank, it was Moreno himself who nodded home a header that bounced inside the right post off a service from Earnie Stewart. It was Moreno’s first goal in a United uniform since June 19, 2002, (a 2-0 home victory vs. Colorado) and his all-time team-leading 70th career goal for the club.
United’s lead was short-lived, however, as the visitors grabbed the equalizer in the 19th minute on a penalty kick scored by central midfielder Ronnie Ekelund. Midfielder Richard Mulrooney sent the ball down the heart of the United defense into the path of a cutting Brian Mullan. United goalkeeper Nick Rimando came off his line to anticipate Mullan, but collided with the player instead. Ekelund stepped up to drill the spot kick into the upper left corner of the goal, tying the score at 1-1.
It was Moreno’s vision which helped restore United’s lead in the 39th minute. Moreno, who continuously sought the ball and made his characteristic penetrating dribbling runs, sliced a pass into a seam in the middle of the San Jose back line which found Alecko Eskandarian. The No. 1 selection of the 2003 SuperDraft beat his defender to the ball and lofted a left-footed shot inside the far right post for his fourth career goal.
While the Earthquakes presented its long-established 4-4-2 lineup, United’s first-year head coach unveiled a new lineup with Bryan Namoff, Ryan Nelsen and Mike Petke forming the team’s three-man defense. Second-year player Brian Carroll, who was making his MLS debut after playing in U.S. Open Cup and exhibition matches in 2003, played directly in front of the back line behind a fluid midfield comprised of Bobby Convey, Ben Olsen, Dema Kovalenko and Stewart from left to right, who all continuously swapped positions. While Eskandarian was the target man in attack, Moreno was left free to roam the entire field and proved the creative spark behind United’s attacks.
United missed several clear-cut scoring opportunities in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Five minutes after the break, Convey ran onto a pinpoint long-distance pass from Stewart, rounding San Jose goalkeeper Pat Onstad on his first touch. But his shot from 10 yards out hit the left side netting. In the 53rd minute, Petke sent a weak header from just five yards out into the hands of Onstad, who botched the outlet pass seconds later leading to another shot by Stewart that finished high of an open goal. Two minutes later Eskandarian found another seam in the Earthquakes back line but his left-footed shot on goal was saved by Onstad.
Chanting “Freddy, Freddy” from the start of the second half, the fans finally got what they wanted when Adu came on for Eskandarian just after the hour as cameras flashed in the stands. The No. 1 pick in this year’s SuperDraft replaced last year’s No. 1 overall pick in United’s attack and became the youngest player in league history, surpassing the mark set by D.C. teammate Santino Quaranta, who made his debut at the age of 16 years and 207 days on May 9, 2001.
The best chance at a second-half equalizer for the Earthquakes came on a 65th minute attempt by Donovan, who cracked a searing shot from the top of the box which United goalkeeper Nick Rimando bounced to his right to parry away.
Two red cards left their mark on the end of the match as Earthquakes defender Craig Waibel was shown a red card for a foul on Moreno in the 76th minute. Four minutes later United was also reduced to 10 men after a Kovalenko was sent off for clipping Mullan from behind.
Neither team was particularly threatening in attack for the remainder of the match as United comfortably held on for a 2-1 opening day win in a match which marked the first career win as a head coach for Nowak, while San Jose head coach Dominic Kinnear saw his debut end in a loss.
D.C. United is back in action next Saturday, April 10, when the team travels to The Home Depot Center to meet the Los Angeles Galaxy at 10 p.m. ET (HDNet, FOX Sports World, FOX Sports en Espanol). The Earthquakes will also play on April 10, opening their home schedule at Spartan Stadium in San Jose when they host the defending Eastern Conference champion Chicago Fire in a nationally televised rematch of MLS Cup 2003 (4 p.m. ET -- ESPN2).
MLS Man of the Match: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
San Jose Earthquakes 1 0 1
D.C. United 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
DC -- Jaime Moreno 1 (Earnie Stewart 1) 12
SJ -- Ronnie Ekelund 1 (penalty kick) 19
DC -- Alecko Eskandarian 1 (Jaime Moreno 1) 39 San Jose Earthquakes -- Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Jeff Agoos, Eddie Robinson, Ramiro Corrales, Brian Mullan, Ronnie Ekelund (Brian Ching 74), Richard Mulrooney, Ian Russell (Arturo Alvarez 86), Dwayne De Rosario (Jamil Walker 81), Landon Donovan. Substitutes Not Used: Jon Conway, Wes Hart. TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Ronnie Ekelund 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Landon Donovan 1, Ronnie Ekelund 1); FOULS: 14 (Eddie Robinson 3); OFFSIDES: 3 (Landon Donovan 2); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Ramiro Corrales 2, Richard Mulrooney 2); SAVES: 5 (Pat Onstad 5) D.C. United -- Nick Rimando, Bryan Namoff, Ryan Nelsen, Mike Petke, Earnie Stewart, Brian Carroll, Dema Kovalenko, Ben Olsen, Bobby Convey (David Stokes 89), Alecko Eskandarian (Freddy Adu 61), Jaime Moreno (Joshua Gros 85). Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Ara, Ronald Cerritos, Troy Perkins, Brandon Prideaux, Doug Warren. TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Alecko Eskandarian 3, Earnie Stewart 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Alecko Eskandarian 2, Earnie Stewart 2); FOULS: 25 (Ben Olsen 7); OFFSIDES: 1 (Bobby Convey 1); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Bobby Convey 2); SAVES: 1 (Nick Rimando 1) Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Eddie Robinson (caution; Professional Foul) 21
SJ -- Dwayne De Rosario (caution; Deliberate Handball) 23
SJ -- Craig Waibel (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 76
DC -- Dema Kovalenko (ejection; Violent Conduct) 80
DC -- Ben Olsen (caution; Reckless Foul) 89
Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry; Greg Barkey
4th Official: Michael Kennedy
Attendance: 24,603
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-53-degrees
San Jose Earthquakes
vs.
Chicago Fire
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Spartan Stadium
San Jose, CA
SAN JOSE, CA (April 10, 2004) —
Though they were down a man for the final quarter-hour, the San Jose Earthquakes fought to a scoreless tie with the Chicago Fire in a rematch of MLS Cup 2003 on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.
A red card to Ramiro Corrales in the 73rd minute left the home side with 10 men, but 'Quakes goalkeeper Pat Onstad made a number of key saves as last year's finalists went a second consecutive week without recording a victory. The Fire have yet to score a goal, having played to a second scoreless draw in as many weeks, while the 'Quakes recorded their first point of the campaign.
Despite wide open play in the first half, good scoring chances were at a premium. The Fire came out looking to attack, with midfielder DaMarcus Beasley free to roam in the center of the park, just behind the front two of Ante Razov and Damani Ralph.
However, the visitors didn't force Onstad to make a save until the 23rd minute, when Ralph connected with Razov in the box. He struck a fine overhead volley toward goal, but Onstad was up to the task and punched it over the bar.
The Fire also had a couple of shouts for penalty kicks as Beasley was bowled over by Onstad and Razov had his heels clipped in the area while trying to push for goal, but referee Jair Marrufo was unmoved by either appeal.
The Earthquakes got into the Fire end with some frequency, but found the final pass always lacking as they tried to get through the well-organized Chicago back three. Fire 'keeper Henry Ring wasn't called upon to make a save before the break, the best chance coming from Jeff Agoos after he burst forward from the back, but he lashed his right-footed shot just wide of the right post.
Both teams had their chances in the second half. In the 55th minute, Ralph broke free at the halfway line and sprinted toward the box before launching a shot that went wide right.
At the other end four minutes later, 'Quakes striker Landon Donovan played a neat give-and-go with Dwayne De Rosario that freed Donovan in the box, but Ring was quick off his line and easily blocked Donovan's shot.
As the match wore on, the tension rose and tempers flared. For the second straight week, San Jose was left with 10 men after Corrales was dispatched after a deliberate two-footed tackle on Andy Williams. The Fire seemed to sense an opportunity and inserted midfielder Justin Mapp to increase the attacking pressure.
Despite the disadvantage, Donovan came close drawing a penalty kick with 12 minutes left. He had Fire defender Evan Whitfield beaten and seemingly went down with a tug to the shirt, but Marrufo again declined to give a penalty.
With less than five minutes remaining, Razov almost stole two points for the Fire when he hit a shot on the run from the right edge of the area, but Onstad was there again to preserve his shutout and earn the 'Quakes a point.
The Fire open their home campaign at renovated Soldier Field next Saturday when they take on the Dallas Burn (7:30 p.m. CT), while the Earthquakes head to the East Coast to face the New England Revolution in their home opener at Gillette Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Pat Onstad
Chicago Fire -- Henry Ring, Kelly Gray, Jim Curtin, Leonard Griffin (Justin Mapp 74), Evan Whitfield, Nate Jaqua, Chris Armas, Andy Williams, DaMarcus Beasley, Ante Razov (Dipsy Selolwane 89), Damani Ralph.
Substitutes Not Used: Denny Clanton, D.J. Countess, Logan Pause.
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Damani Ralph 5, Ante Razov 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Ante Razov 3); FOULS: 7 (Andy Williams 2); OFFSIDES: 4 (Damani Ralph 2, Ante Razov 2); CORNER KICKS: 12 (Andy Williams 7); SAVES: 1 (Henry Ring 1)
San Jose Earthquakes -- Pat Onstad, Wes Hart, Troy Dayak, Eddie Robinson, Jeff Agoos, Brian Mullan, Ronnie Ekelund, Richard Mulrooney, Ramiro Corrales, Landon Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario (Brian Ching 71).
Substitutes Not Used: Arturo Alvarez, Jon Conway, Steve Cronin, Tighe Dombrowski, Roger Levesque, Ian Russell, Jamil Walker.
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (3 tied with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Landon Donovan 1); FOULS: 14 (Brian Mullan 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Dwayne De Rosario 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Jeff Agoos 3, Richard Mulrooney 3); SAVES: 5 (Pat Onstad 5)
Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Ramiro Corrales (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 73
CHI -- Damani Ralph (caution; Tackle from Behind) 90
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Referee's Assistants: Kermit Quisenberry; Fabio Tovar
4th Official: Erich Simmons
Attendance: 8,230
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
The following pages have news from 2003
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