BRADENTON, Fla. - The San Jose Earthquakes came from behind to pull out a 1-1 tie with the Kansas City Wizards at the IMG Academy. Davy Arnaud scored for the Wizards in the first half, but Chris Wondolowski netted a goal in the second half to pull San Jose even. The Quakes then nearly got the win at the end with a couple of opportunities in the closing moments.
Kansas City came out strong in the first half, but it was the Quakes who had the first chance of the game, as Ronald Cerritos ripped a shot from 35 yards out that sailed just over the crossbar in the eighth minute.
The Wizards effort in the first half paid off in the 38th minute as Arnaud scored to put them up 1-0. Jose Burciaga Jr. received the ball all alone on the left wing and drove a low cross into the goalmouth, where Arnaud snuck in and tapped the ball past Pat Onstad.
Josh Wolff nearly made it a two-goal advantage in the closing moments of the first half, as he picked up a through ball and broke in alone on Onstad. However, the Quakes goalkeeper dove out to make the save and keep the game at 1-0 heading into halftime.
After a number of changes at the half, the Quakes came out strong with two near goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Brian Ching and Alejandro Moreno each had close-range shots blocked in the 53rd minute. Six minutes later, Ching created a chance for himself after getting a pass on the right side. He dribbled towards the penalty box before ripping a low shot that forced Wizards goalkeeper Bo Oshoniyi to make a diving save.
At the other end, Arnaud tested Onstad with a long-range blast and Chris Klein nearly got behind the defense minutes later, but Troy Dayak stepped in to break up the opportunity.
The Quakes tied the game off the foot of Wondolowski with just under 20 minutes remaining in the match. Antou Jallow got the ball at the top of the box and then slipped a ball through to Wondolowski on his right. The former Chico State midfielder nicely chipped the ball over Wizards substitute goalkeeper Will Hesmer to even the score.
San Jose continued to pressure, but could not find the winning goal. Moreno nearly scored off a volley in the box, while Dayak had a left-footed volley saved by Hesmer with less than 10 minutes remaining.
The Quakes now possess a 1-1-2 record in the preseason. They will remain in Bradenton until Thursday, Feb. 24 before returning to the Bay Area to continue training camp.
Quotes:
Dominic Kinnear, on game:
"In the first half, we looked a little lethargic both on and off the ball. I thought that we defended well, but we didn't play very well and we didn't use the ball well. In the second half, we had some new players in there and they really wanted to come in and bring the team back into the game, and they did that. They wanted to make an impression, especially the guys that came on midway through the half, and they did."
Kinnear, on training camp to this point:
"All in all, I am pretty pleased with the way things have gone. The team has improved game to game. Today's first half wasn't our best performance, but overall I think that we have progressed each game and the guys are getting more comfortable with each other. The guys that have been here are doing well, and I think that the new players have gotten used to the team and are playing well."
Ronald Cerritos, on game:
"Overall the team played well. We came out a little slow in the first half. I think that we had tired legs and it was a hot day, but the players that came on in the second half really turned the game around. They got the tying goal and they nearly scored a game-winner at the end."
Brian Mullan, on team's play:
"I am happy with the team right now. We didn't have the best start today, but we battled and hung in there, and then we turned it around in the second half. That shows good character on our part to come back and get a result."
Lineups
SJ
- GK Pat Onsad (Jon Conway, 46), D Craig Waibel (Wes Hart, 46), D Eddie Robinson (Troy Dayak, 46), D Chris Aloisi (Ryan Cochrane, 46), D Wade Barrett (Orlando Ramirez, 67), M Brian Mullan (Roger Levesque, 67), M Ricardo Clark (Danny O'Rourke, 46), M Tighe Dombrowski (Kevin Goldthwaite, 46), M Brad Davis (Chris Wondolowski, 67), F Ronald Cerritos (Alejandro Moreno, 46), F Brian Ching (Antou Jallow, 67).
KC
- GK Bo Oshoniyi (Will Hesmer, 60), D Alex Zotinca
(Shavar Thomas, 70), D Jimmy Conrad, D Nick Garcia, D Jose Burciaga, M Jay Alberts
(John Minagawa-Webster, 46), M Kerry Zavagnin, M Diego Walsh (Doug Lascody, 55),
M Chris Klein, F Josh Wolff (Ryan Pore, 75), F Davy Arnaud
Scoring Summary
KC
- Arnaud (Burciaga Jr.), 38;
SJ
- Wondolowski (Jallow), 72.
