Z/Web

Bizarre game. The Quakes have been struggling lately; I home this game is a sign that they’re finally returning to form. Coming in to this game most figured it would be a rout: San Jose hasn’t lost to D.C. in three years, and D.C. hasn’t one a single road game all season (and only scored three away goals). But astonishingly, some sloppy play right off the bat allowed D.C. a goal in the fifth minute. The Quakes pressured and pressured and finally got a goal back on a penalty kick. In the second half the Quakes finally started to play better than they have in weeks, looking much more like themselves. But more sloppy play in not clearing a ball quickly from the penalty area resulted in another goal by D.C. (very similar to the first goal). With the Quakes down again, they fought back, and minutes later scored on a Ronnie Ekeland free kick (his first two-goal game for the Quakes). What was the coolest about the free kick was the positioning. From where I was sitting in the stands I could see the opening that Ekeland saw and I was thinking to myself “Go right through there!” and sure enough, that’s what he did, putting it perfectly through the tiny gap and off the far post. Wonderful! That’s the way it ended, preserving the Earthquakes’ “no loss at home” record, but ending a long home winning streak. They’re now just two points in front of a surging Dallas (whom they play on Wednesday), and the playoff crunch is looming. Still, the Quakes looked better in this game and I’m hopeful. Ariel hasn’t scored in a bit, so it’s time he gets a couple. Final: 2-2.