The Quakes gave up the lead three times to draw against the Fire in an exciting match containing both quality play and major errors and from which the Fire will take more satisfaction than the Quakes. It was a match the Quakes should have been able to see through for a victory instead of dropping two points at home.

“We tied 3-3 but it still feels like a loss” – Bobby Convey, Earthquakes

See below for Player Ratings and Key Takeaways.

The game started brightly for the Quakes with Pablo Campos giving the Fire’s defense fits, but surrendering a golden opportunity when he dallied in a one on one with the Fire’s keeper Busch.

The Quakes got their first goal on the counter attack in the 14th minute as Huckerby trapped a 50 yard down field pass beautifully, waltzing in momentarily so Ryan Johnson could run into the box to finish his cross. Ryan almost made it two in the 30th minute when Campos chipped the ball off the goal line back to Johnson for a looping header that beat Busch, but narrowly went over.

At the other end of the pitch the Quakes looked less masterful, with players going unmarked in the penalty area time and again. A nice move and curling shot from the Fire’s Tim Ward at the top of the box almost put Chicago level in the 39th minute, but it was in the 41st minute that the woefulness of the Quakes defending came to full light. The Quakes defensive coverage left Convey with the job, but no hope, of covering two players in the area. A simple pass checkmated the Quakes and Marco Pappa put a sure shot into the back of the net, evening the score, 1-1.

Bobby Convey’s response after the restart gave the fans their first real glimpse of his quality and it was thrilling. Reading the play Bobby ran onto the ball, deftly beat a defender, and then put the ball past the Fire’s keeper with a calm ease rarely seen on the pitch at Buck Shaw. The Quakes had retaken the lead after only two minutes, and the level of excitement in the stadium and on the pitch was palpable.

The Quakes pressed again looking for a third, but the half time whistle blew with the Quakes leading 2-1. Coach Yallop was immediately on the pitch talking to Convey and Huckerby.

If any anyone suspected the second half would be more exciting, it could only have been those fans wearing the No.10 Fire jerseys with Blanco written on the back. They got what they came for when the Fire put Cuauhtemoc Blanco in for Prideaux. The Quakes substituted defender Denton in for forward Campos, allowing Convey to move up into an attacking role.

The Quakes came out in high spirits with Convey highly mobile and looking to run onto the ball in the final third, but the Fire were pressing hard for an equalizer, and Blanco’s influence on the game was as pivotal as it was deceptive.

Looking like he might not have the legs for the game, Blanco nevertheless started to show up in just the right spots to unsettle the Quakes defense and make a smart play of the ball. His teammates responded with enthusiasm.

Patrick Nyarko pressed repeatedly at pace down the left wing, but it was more methodical build up that paid off for the Fire. Ghosting in to 18 yards, playmaker Blanco put a simple header to Brian McBride who turned and shot with commanding quality leveling the score 2-2.

“Blanco was the difference in the game” – Coach Yallop, Earthquakes

Shea Salinas came on for Huckerby as the Quakes looked to retake their lead yet again, but it was the Fire who were on the ascendency. Confidently dangerous and doing better in possession, the Fire were getting numbers up in attack and forcing Joe Cannon into saves. Frustration showed in the 72nd minute when Shea got involved in a shoving match and received an avoidable caution that would come to haunt the Quakes.

The Quakes retook the lead two minutes later with Bobby Convey the catalyst again. He got in behind the defense to receive a long ball and was brought down in the penalty area. Arturo Alvarez calmly put the penalty kick past keeper Busch for the Quakes to retake the lead 3-2.

With fifteen minutes left in the game, one couldn’t help but feel there were more goals in it for the Fire and in short order Blanco took a 30 yard free kick, curling inches outside the near post.

The Quakes luck started to finally run out in the 81st minute when Shea Salinas received a second yellow card. The referee deemed Shea to have delayed the game, leaving the Quakes with 10 men, 10 minutes, and a one goal advantage. The Fire continued to press methodically and broke through with a fierce Chris Rolfe shot on goal that Cannon could not get enough of to stop, tying the game 3-3.

The Fire smelled blood in the water and pressed deliberately for a winning goal. The Quakes bravely tried to take back the lead in end to end action, but limited in how many bodies they could put forward, they managed to hold on for a draw.

Neither Quakes coach nor players were happy with the result.

“In the end we were lucky to get a point out of the game. We were awful in the 2nd half to be honest,” Coach Yallop assessed after the game, “but I think you have to credit Chicago with the way they played, they kept the ball well.”

“I think we should have easily won.” Bobby Convey, despite scoring his first league goal for the Quakes in a spirited performance, was no more positive about the result, “We kind of self destructed a bit. We need to be more cutthroat to be honest and really finish the game off. We lost the game because of ourselves.”

The game record will show a 3-3 draw.

Key Takeaways
• The Quakes defense showed serious weaknesses in balance, coverage, and coordination when under pressure.
• Joe Cannon is being asked to do too much to keep the ball out of the net including leaving the penalty area to defend.
• The Quakes have a much better arsenal of attacking options this season and opposition teams will have to do more than close down Darren Huckerby to hold the Quakes scoreless.
• Bobby Convey’s best is very good, but he needs open space to work in. Fitting Convey into a winning team strategy is still a work in progress.
• The Quakes will need to find a champion mindset they are currently lacking to reach the heights they are capable of.

Player Ratings (1-10) and Notes

Alvarez: 7.5 Arturo asserted himself on both ends of the pitch and schooled Fire players with his skills on the ball. He might have created a little more out of possession at the Fire’s goal line, but his cool and effective penalty kick cemented a complete performance.

Cannon: 7.0 The Quakes ask more than is healthy of their keeper. Joe made 8 saves, was aware on corners and played a very active role on defense, but he’ll want to have another chance to block the Fire’s last goal and will not be happy having had to pick the ball out of his net three times.

Convey: 6.5 Bobby may take heat for the Fire’s first goal, though it wasn’t his fault as he was left to cover two attackers over a lot of prime real estate in front of goal Convey’s immediate response in the form of a solo goal, and his forward play in the second half was eye opening and exciting, Quakes fans first chance to see what Convey is all about. Now, how does Yallop fit that into the team, and does it fit?

Campos: 6.0 Pablo got an initiation to MLS match level play and refereeing in his first MLS start. He was a real problem for the Fire defense and created all kinds of chances, but he should have scored one or more goals. He’ll now know that the referees are going to allow defenders to push him around, and that when he beats a defender to go 1 on 1 with the Keeper, he needs to finish quickly. Watch this space as he gets fitter and more experienced.

Huckerby: 6.0 Darren produced a moment of magic with a world class trapping touch that set-up the Quakes first goal. At other times he seemed hesitant to make his runs – was it fitness or communication?

Johnson: 6.0 Ryan seems at his best in combination with Huckerby and that’s how he came through with the Quakes first goal. At other times he was quieter in terms of attacking effect, and he headed too many midfield balls forward to open space instead of taking and keeping possession.

Leitch: 5.5 Chris made a brilliant 50 yard pass that set-up the Quakes first goal but it does not make up for poor team defending and some poor clearances.

Corrales: 5.0 Ramiro can take some credit for the Quakes midfield looking strong, but has to take some measure of responsibility for the poor balance and coverage in team defending.

Elliot: 5.0 Simon looked very solid in midfield play and seems a good inclusion in the starting line-up, but his defending under pressure was suspect, including leaving a man completely unmarked behind him. Improving team defending coordination with his teammates will be essential.

Garcia: 5.0 Nick looked generally solid, but let himself get beat in the box and has to take some culpability for poor team defending.

Cochrane: 4.5 Ryan made some critical tackles including one that kept Blanco from scoring but was part of poor team defending and will rue sending what could have been the game winning goal well over the bar.

Denton: 4.5 Eric came on in the 2nd half and was unable to shut the Fire down as part of a team defense that allowed 2 goals in 45 minutes.

Salinas: 4.0 Shea can’t be faulted for the second yellow card, but never should have gotten sucked into the fracas that gave him the first card. Shea brought on his formidable skills, but for the last ten minutes of the match the Quakes were a man down thanks to his indiscretion. Shea is suspended from the next match.

Match Facts

Chicago Fire (2-0-2) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (1-2-1)
April 11, 2009 — Buck Shaw Stadium

Scoring Summary:
SJ — Ryan Johnson 2 (Darren Huckerby 2, Chris Leitch 2) 14
CHI — Marco Pappa 2 (Logan Pause 1, Justin Mapp 1) 41
SJ — Bobby Convey 1 (unassisted) 43
CHI — Brian McBride 2 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1, Bakary Soumare 1) 57
SJ — Arturo Alvarez 2 (penalty kick) 75
CHI — Chris Rolfe 1 (Marco Pappa 2) 85

Lineups:
Chicago Fire — Jon Busch, Brandon Prideaux (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 46), Dasan Robinson (Mike Banner 81), Bakary Soumare, Gonzalo Segares, Marco Pappa, Tim Ward, Logan Pause, Justin Mapp (Chris Rolfe 69), Brian McBride, Patrick Nyarko,

Substitutes Not Used: C.J. Brown, Baggio Husidic, Nick Noble, Austin Washington

San Jose Earthquakes — Joe Cannon, Chris Leitch, Ryan Cochrane, Nick Garcia, Bobby Convey, Arturo Alvarez, Ramiro Corrales, Simon Elliott, Darren Huckerby (Shea Salinas 63), Pablo Campos (Eric Denton 46), Ryan Johnson (Cam Weaver 86),

Substitutes Not Used: Quincy Amarikwa, Brandon McDonald, Davide Somma, Andrew Weber

Misconduct Summary:
SJ — Chris Leitch (caution; Reckless Foul) 7
CHI — Gonzalo Segares (caution; Reckless Foul) 55
SJ — Shea Salinas (caution; Reckless Foul) 73
CHI — Dasan Robinson (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 73
SJ — Ramiro Corrales (caution; Reckless Foul) 78
SJ — Shea Salinas (ejection; Second Caution) 81

Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee’s Assistants: Paul Scott; Jeff Hosking
4th official: Vicente Cortes
time of game: 1:51
attendance: 9,717
weather: Clear -and- 64 degrees