For the first time in almost a decade, San Jose Keeper Joe Cannon stepped on to the field at Buckshaw Stadium for a regular season soccer match. Having played his collegiate career at Santa Clara University, the field was all too familiar. McAfee Coliseum provided the first home match for the Earthquakes this season, but Cannon admitted before the game that Buck Shaw carried a different sentiment.

“We have all been waiting for the field to be done. It’s good to practice on this field. Oakland is venue where we will play three times, but we will only train once or twice… This is definitely something that we have all been looking forward to.”

Inspired by their first true home crowd of the season, the Earthquakes came out aggressive early, providing intense on-ball pressure whenever Dallas had possession. Although the Earthquakes were able to generate more opportunities, FC Dallas proved to be stingy on their back line as well. Each team created a fare share of chances, but neither team could capitalize as regulation ended with a 0-0 tie. The San Jose defense had a monster game, as Jason Hernandez stepped up to fill in for injured defensive stalwart Ryan Cochrane. Earthquake Head Coach Frank Yallop understood the teams offensive frustrations, but felt the team should have broken through to net at least one goal.

“The team is creating chances; they just aren’t going in… I think scoring will be the last thing that comes with this team, and it has proven to be that. We just couldn’t finish on the end of one of them (the opportunities). It’s disappointing in that front, I felt the guys worked really hard, should have got something out of it. We should have won the game to be honest.”

The first opportunity of the game came early for the Earthquakes, sparked by a Ronnie O’Brien run on the flanks. A flurry of passes worked the ball to forward Kei Kamara, but the shot was rifled straight at opposing keeper Dario Sala, allowing him to make the easy save. Although many other chances presented themselves throughout the match, Kamara had already registered the games only official shot on goal for San Jose.

Moments after Kamara’s shot, Ned Grabavoy intercepted a pass on Dallas’s side of the field, and crossed the ball out to fellow midfielder Ivan Guerrero wide on the flank. Guerrero proceeded towards the goal, but fired his shot high above the crossbar.

Continuing their assault on the Dallas defense, as O’Brien found himself with another attempt on goal after a through pass from Ramiro Corrales. However O’Brien could not manage an accurate shot and the ball was sent wide left.

With a multitude of opportunities, neither team could execute on a night that belonged to defense. Dallas effectively clogged the front of the goal, disallowing any San Jose player to get a clean head on the ball. Even 6’3 Kei Kamara could not use his height to head home one of the multiple San Jose crosses.

Dallas’s star forward Kenny Cooper was quiet to begin the game, with his first shot coming twenty-seven minutes in. A long pass over the defense gave Cooper his first taste of space, as the San Jose defense had been blanketing him throughout the first half. The Hoops forward could not manage a clean shot with the Earthquake defense pestering him, and his shot was sent in to the side of the net. Yallop was well aware of Cooper’s game changing ability, declaring on Friday what the team would need to do to hinder Cooper, Arturo Alvarez, and Juan Toja’s influence on the game.

“We just got to press them, just try and make it difficult for them to get out of their own end… If we do that correctly it will be difficult to play against us, we proved that in Chicago.”

Although FC Dallas was able to muster three shots on goal to San Jose’s one, it was the Dallas defense that was tested early and often throughout the match. Again in the 30th minute, Kamara was set up with another long pass from defender Eric Denton. Kamara attempted to take the shot before he established control of the ball, and the shot was lobbed high over the net.

Captain Dullio Davino and the rest of the Dallas back line clamped down on the San Jose forwards, as the Quakes could not find another shot until Corrales sent a ball wide right of the goal just before halftime.

The passing that had given the Earthquakes so many chances in the first half lulled after a few minutes in the second half. In the 50th minute Riley chipped a lead pass to a streaking Kamara, but the forward decided to power the ball through, but was only able to send it wide right. Grabavoy was able to find a shot a few minutes later, but San Jose did not register a shot until four minutes were left in the game.

The best opportunity for Dallas came off of San Jose’s constant pressure. On a counter attack, the Hoops had a two on one with defender Nick Garcia caught in limbo. Garcia was able to pressure Alvarez in time to disrupt the play, and the former Quake and Yallop drafted midfielder could only launch the shot above the crossbar.

Newly acquired forward Peguero Jean Philippe made his second appearance of the season, substituting in for Gavin Glinton in the 55th minute. Aside from some tricky ball handling under pressure that drew a rouse from the crowd, his impact on the game was minimal as he could not generate a shot on goal. Salinas and Ryan Johnson also found playing time later in the game, adding fresh legs to a busy San Jose midfield. Salinas, who took the place on star Ronnie O’Brien in the 75th minute, provided a flurry of crosses towards the end of regulation. Rgrettably neither Philippe nor Kamara could direct the passes net-bound.

Hoping to reward the South Bay fans for their years of waiting with a win, the team had to stomach the tie. Most importantly the team felt the support of their fans throughout the match. Jason Hernandez stated after the game, “There was a nice buzz going around… It really feels like a home now.” Cannon appreciated the sellout crowd’s emotion, and was excited to see many of the old traditions from Spartan Stadium.

“San Jose has always had great fans… I think we have the best fans, along with the Casbah, and let’s keep proving that. The fans are so close, and it’s a great atmosphere. They are right on top of you, and it’s a special feeling.”

The aforementioned Casbah were vocal throughout the game, with the chant “We are the Casbah, the mighty mighty Casbah” ringing throughout the stadium. It was music to the ears of returning Quakes Cannon and Ramiro Corrales, and a sound the new members will grow to love. Although the team might have been disappointed coming out of that game with only a tie, the excitement of a new home masked any such perception.