MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2004 - SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 3, COLORADO RAPIDS 1
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On the game:
"It was a great first half, entertaining football. We probably should have had more goals, but I thought we had a better first half, but we got two goals in the second half and I am really proud of the team, the guys played really well."
On the team:
"I give full credit to the guys that played today. They never got their heads down and I think it sends a message to the rest of the league that we are starting to play better. We are pleased, but we don't want to get too high, it is just one win."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER PAT ONSTAD
On the game:
"I thought we played the best soccer we had played all season, especially in the first half. We just took it to them and it was a good 90-minute performance."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER RYAN COCHRANE
On the game:
"I think the Portland game gave us a lot of confidence and I think that carried over today. Before the game we talked about everyone just going out there and doing what they do best and I think that everyone did that today."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER BRIAN MULLAN
On the game:
"This team is not used to losing, so we were mad before the game. The Portland game gave us a little boost, but it is a good feeling to win. We definitely came out strong and we put our chances away. I think we are just sick of losing and we are not going to take it anymore."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD LANDON DONOVAN
On the Earthquakes offense:
"But for Joe (Cannon), it could have been 5-0, 6-0. When we move the ball well, we get a lot of chances. (Brian) Ching and I know how to get space, and when we do, we have Ronnie (Ekelund) and Richard (Mulrooney) back there to give us the chances, and today we took advantage of that."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD BRIAN CHING
On the game:
"In the past month, we have only put together about 45 minutes of good soccer, so it feels good to put it all together today. I think we are tough to beat once we get that first goal, so we need to continue doing that."
On his first goal:
"It was a great buildup play from Pat to Brian (Ching) back to Landon (Donovan) who played another good ball to Ronnie (Ekelund). Ronnie played me an excellent ball and I just continued my run and had a good finish."
On his second goal:
"Brian Mullan made a great run and Ramiro made a great cross. Brian left it for me, and it fell right to my feet. Not too many people miss that one."
COLORADO RAPIDS HEAD COACH TIM HANKINSON
On the game:
"We should have lost 10-1. I was glad that one of our players worked up to go and get us a goal, but we defended poorly as a team. We got completely outplayed in every aspect of the game."
On recovering from the loss:
"We have to stop the bleeding first. We can't put ourselves in a 3-goals against position. We have to start getting on the board, so we've got work to do on both ends of the park. The Open Cup is our next opportunity to work at that."
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER SETH TREMBLY
On his first goal of the season:
"We didn't really create a ton of opportunities, but to get a chance to put it away was good. We didn't create many after that and we didn't have a chance to come back in the game, so it was really all for naught."
On the Quakes play:
"San Jose showed up and played today. They're a team that when they show up to play, they're very hard to play against. They were moving the ball around well and moving off the ball well, making it hard for us to defend and build anything up. They played well today."
On the U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday in Dallas:
"I'm looking forward to that. I think the Open Cup keeps getting better and better, more sought after every year by the teams. So we want to go in with the mindset that we're going to win and be in the final of something. The Open Cup is just another chance for us to do that. We're taking it seriously and we're going to show up and try to get back on track with that game."
On the loss of Pablo Mastroeni:
"It's tough for any team to lose such a good player, a guy that's been on the national team and who is such a leader defensively with his effort and world-class ability. But that's soccer, that's sports. You've got to have guys on the bench and on the team that can fill those voids and step up and take that leadership role. So now we have to do that and find someone to take his place."
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER MARK CHUNG
On how it felt to play a full 90 minutes:
"Pretty tough, actually. To come back 90 minutes in 90-something degree weather was tough. San Jose played well and knocked the ball around. They were very organized. They're a tough team to play at home."
On Colorado's play:
"I think we got a little disorganized after their goal. We had an opportunity, but it hit the post. That's how luck goes some time. San Jose had that same luck last game; they hit two posts and lost 2-0. So it just depends on how the luck draws."
On losing Pablo Mastroeni:
"Losing Pablo a day before the game didn't help us either. He's one of the best defenders in the league, so to lose him is tough, especially when we're playing San Jose on the road."
COLORADO RAPIDS GOALKEEPER JOE CANNON
On playing at Spartan Stadium:
"I really miss playing here, it was a little disappointing because our team didn't come out with our best effort. We just need to pick things up and come out next time and show our fans and the Earthquakes that we are a better team than that."
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER PABLO MASTROENI
On his injury:
"It's still bad. We're going to have to get it assessed on Monday. But there's nothing worse in professional sports than to sit on the sideline and being absolutely helpless."
On the game:
"We haven't had the breaks all year long. I think San Jose did a good job of coming out early and often, winning the second balls and being more aggressive today. The ball bounced their way and they finished their opportunities. Hats off to those guys. We just have to keep on working and try to find a groove."
