Commentary from April 12, 2008 - San Jose Earthquakes vs Chicago Fire at Oakland's McAfee Coliseum


The Quakes are Back


1-0 loss doesn't spoil Quakes return to the Bay Area


 

Oakland's McAfee Coliseum traded bats for soccer balls, for Major League Soccer's much awaited return to San Jose and the greater Bay Area, in a game which saw the expansion San Jose Earthquakes lose 1-0 to the red hot Chicago Fire.

 

In the end, all that matters is  "the Quakes are back".

 

It couldn't have been a better day for soccer in the Bay Area.  Well, that's not entirely true as it could have been much better.  A sellout crowd and a win would have helped but it wasn't in the cards.  Attendance was listed at a generous 20,038, but the McAfee Coliseum swallowed the crowd, which was scattered around the stadium.  It couldn't have been weather, which kept the fans away, because it was a beautiful day to take in a game.  Maybe a touch on the warm side for mid April, but certainly not warm enough to derail aficionados who have been awaiting the Quakes return since they departed for Houston at the end of the 2005 season.  One would have hoped that the turnout would have been a sellout to welcome the team back into the Bay Area and most importantly, make sure they don't leave again, but there is not mistaking it,  "the Quakes are back"

 

The atmosphere was what you would expect from a team, which hadn't experienced live professional soccer in two full seasons and were borrowing their big brothers stadium.  The diehard Quakes fans came, but the hundred or so intent on create a more worldly environment, were in the upper level and their cheers failed to penetrate the stadium like a McGwire home run of yesteryears.  The field looked great, and had you not known the A's played there, you would have thought the grass lived in the stadium, instead of being cut in for the day.  The sightlines were split, with some fans having a perfect view, and others wondering why they were what seemed like miles away with pockets of open seats throughout the best parts of the stadium.  It really didn't matter, because the rumor on the street is "the Quakes are back".

 

There were fireworks and a trip down memory lane during a video of the Clash and Quakes of past, neither of which seemed to ignite the crowd, which seemed to be either waiting for Blanco's entrance or somehow stumbled onto tickets to the game.  It failed to generate the excitement one would have hoped for the return of the Quakes, but let's not forget "the Quakes are back."

 

Early in the game, it was the Quakes which dictated the tempo and the Fire looked like the expansion team.  However, suspect crossing and sloppy play in the finishing third meant that the Quakes had nothing to show for their efforts.  Even worse, in the 19th minute, the Quakes allowed Blanco, who was the only player whose every move was scrutinized, to deliver a dangerous penetrating pass to Tomasz Frankowski. The Pole's shot was saved by Joe Cannon, but Chad Barrett scooped up the rebound and scored what turned out to be the game winning goal.  Ain't nothing but a thing as "the Quakes are back".

 

The Quakes were better than expected throughout the game, but it wasn't until late in the game when Shea Salinas and Ryan Johnson came into the game, and Frank Yallop shifted Ronnie O'Brien central in the midfield, when the possession led to dangerous chances which had a chance to tie the game.  The Earthquakes continued to press and create opportunities and were unlucky not to salvage a tie when Salinas took a rebound off the post and pushed it over the bar in the final minute of play.  Who is back?  "The Quakes are back".

 

If the Quakes continue call the Bay Area home for years to come, there will be plenty to analyze, whether that be the stadium itself or the atmosphere created by the fans and players inside it.  System and style of play, player signings, attendance and anything else which can be critiqued certainly will be. However, today was a celebration for the soccer community in the Bay Area and did I mention, "the Quakes are Back"!

By Christopher Ziemer