The San Jose Earthquakes picked up their first win of the preseason Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in an 80-minute match at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The defeat is the Fire's first of the preseason.
Midfielder Brad Davis, acquired from FC Dallas in a draft-day trade, opened the scoring in the 13th minute, slotting home a pass from forward Alejandro Moreno, who was obtained by the Quakes in an early January trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Just minutes earlier, Davis had threatened with a run through the Fire defense, but he was tackled before he was able to unleash a shot.
Late in the second half, forward Roger Levesque, who came on for Ronald Cerritos at the break, notched an insurance marker for the Bay Area club. Rookie Chris Wondolowski started the play on the left, sending a ball across the field to Brian Mullan in the right corner. Mullan then whipped in a cross that Levesque was able to knock past second-year Fire 'keeper Matt Pickens.
Earlier in the second stanza, both Pickens and his opposite, Quakes 'keeper Pat Onstad made crucial saves for their clubs. Onstad held a close-range effort from Fire midfielder Hollis Davidson early in the second half, and Pickens later parried a Victor "Boomer" Arbelaez shot that, at the time, helped keep the game close.
The Earthquakes are back on the field in Bradenton Thursday to take on the MetroStars. The Fire return to action in Bradenton on Saturday against the U.S. Under-20 national team.
Rapids call off match:
The Colorado Rapids cancelled their scheduled friendly with Ecuadorian Club Deportivo Quevedo Wednesday when both clubs' coaching staffs deemed the field conditions in Quevedo, Ecuador to be unsafe for play.
The match had been scheduled for a soccer facility two hours away from the Rapids' temporary base in Guayaquil, Ecuador, but upon arrival at the site, the staffs of CD Quevedo and the Rapids found the ground to be unsuitable for the match and potentially dangerous to the players.
After calling off the contest, the Rapids returned to Guayaquil Wednesday afternoon for a training session. The team will next play on Tuesday against either Ecuadorian club team Barcelona or Emelec, whom the Rapids tied 0-0 last Friday.
CD Chivas USA downs Gauchos:
Former Kansas City Wizards Matt Taylor and Francisco Gómez both scored as Club Deportivo Chivas USA defeated USL Second Division side San Diego Gauchos 2-0 Wednesday night at The Home Depot Center in CD Chivas USA's first scrimmage on U.S. soil.
Taylor and Gómez scored two minutes apart in the second half, Taylor finishing off a long ball from Gómez in the 51st minute and Gómez converting from the penalty spot after Rodrigo López had been fouled by the Gauchos' goalkeeper.
CD Chivas USA's next match will be played against UCLA Saturday afternoon.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
