The San Jose Earthquakes reserves exploded for three second-half goals against the Real Salt Lake reserves to earn a 3-1 win at Valley Christian High School in San Jose. The Quakes got on the board with goals from Brian Ching, Chris Wondolowski, and Kevin Goldthwaite, while RSL's lone goal came from a Jaime Watson penalty kick.
The Quakes had the first offensive opportunity of the match in the fourth minute on an attempt by Ching. Quakes forward Julian Nash carried the ball down the field to the Real Salt Lake box and gave the ball to midfielder Wes Hart. Hart sent a hard cross into the middle of the box that connected with Ching's head, but his solid shot missed the near post.
The Quakes had another great chance when Nash received the ball wide open on the left side of the field. After carrying it down the sideline towards the 18-yard box, he crossed a high ball to the far right side of the box to an open Hart. Hart volleyed a hard, low shot that went just wide of the goal in the 13th minute.
Real Salt Lake had a series of chances to break through the Quakes defense off corner kicks midway through the first half. After a Real corner kick, the ball bounced around in the 18-yard box. Luke Kreamalmeyer sent a hard shot past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Conway that was headed for the net, but Quakes midfielder Danny O'Rourke volleyed the ball off the line to save the goal. Just one minute later, RSL was at it again following another corner kick. Seth Trembely received a pass and eluded a defender, before firing a shot, but Conway leapt and blocked the shot for the save.
In the 28th minute, Quakes defender Chris Aloisi was called for a penalty in the crowded goal box, giving Real Salt Lake a penalty kick. Watson took the kick, smashing a shot on the ground past a diving Conway to put Real up 1-0 in the 29th minute.
The Quakes had perhaps their best chance of the half in the 43rd minute. Real Salt Lake committed a foul on Ching, giving the Earthquakes a free kick just outside of the box. Goldthwaite sent a looping cross to the left side of the goal where Wondolowski redirected the ball towards the net. His shot bounced off the right post. Wondolowski followed through and chased down the ball at the post for another attempt. His second shot slammed off of the top of the cross bar and bounced down back into the goal box, where the RSL defenders cleared it out of danger.
The Quakes got on the scoreboard in the beginning of the second half off a corner kick by Goldthwaite. Ching met the cross in the box and smashed it into the right corner of the net in the 48th minute to even the score 1-1.
Two minutes later the Quakes came roaring back to take the lead. Nash intercepted a pass back to RSL goalkeeper Jay Nolly and flicked a header over him before recovering the ball on the end line. Nash tapped a high ball to the other side of the goal over the defenders to the far post. Wondolowski was waiting wide open at the back post and ran onto the ball to head it into the open net to put the Quakes up 2-1.
In the 72nd minute, the Quakes had a great chance on a counterattack. Ian Russell received the ball at the halfway line and beat a RSL defender to carry it all the way to the Salt Lake goal box. Russell touched the ball parallel to forward James Twellman, who quickly passed it to Nash on his right. Nash carried the ball across the 18-yard box in front of his defender before shooting the ball right at Nolly, who knocked the ball out of danger.
The Quakes scored their third and final goal of the game when they earned a free kick in the 75th minute from 25 yards out after Michael Lookingland fouled a streaking Ian Russell. Hart stepped on the ball and rolled it to Goldthwaite for the free kick. Goldthwaite took a low, hard shot that went through all of the RSL defenders and found its way inside the near post to give the Quakes a 3-1 advantage.
Scoring Summary: RSL - Watson (penalty kick), 28; SJ - Ching (Goldthwaite), 48; Wondolowski (Nash), 50; Goldthwaite (Hart), 75.
Earthquakes Reserves - Jon Conway (Robbie Fulton 46), Chris Aloisi, Brett Rodriguez, Ryan Cochrane, Kevin Goldthwaite, Wes Hart, Danny O'Rourke, Chris Wondolowski, Ian Russell (Orlando Ramirez 80), Brian Ching (James Twellman 54), Julian Nash (left game 86).
SUBS NOT USED: None.
Real Salt Lake Reserves - Jay Nolly, Nelson Akwari, Michael Lookingland, Cameron Knowles, Marlon Rojas, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Leslie Fitzpatrick (Sergio Flores 46), Nick Besagno, Seth Trembley (Kevin Novak 46), Jordan Cila, Jaime Watson (Adam Acosta 60).
SUBS NOT USED: Chad Sackett, Will Cummings.
Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Brian Ching 45' (yellow)
SJ -- Wes Hart 68' (yellow)
RSL - Michael Lookingland 74' (yellow)
SJ -- Brett Rodriguez 81' (yellow)
Referee: Colin Arblaster, Said Ravanfar, Greg Hill, Jeff Forward.
Attendance: 223; Weather: Sunny and 77 degrees.
