SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 2, REAL SALT LAKE 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On the game:
"I was happy with how the team played for 60-70 minutes. We were on top of them right at the start of the game and we definitely deserved to be up 2-0. However, you have to give Real Salt Lake credit because they crept back into the game. Their first goal was a bit soft and then the game became a little bit run and gun."
On going undefeated at home and winning Supporters' Shield:
"We are a little upset at losing the lead tonight, but overall I am very proud of the guys for finishing the year without losing at Spartan Stadium and for winning the Supporters' Shield for the first time. Everyone here has played hard all year and they deserve to be where they are. They are both great accomplishments, but we still have more work to do this year."
On Dwayne De Rosario:
"I subbed him out because I thought that he deserved the ovation from the home fans for his great regular season. He has worked hard all year and I am happy that the fans recognized that."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER DWAYNE DE ROSARIO
On his goal:
"I actually tried to pass it to Brian Mullan, but then Brian Dunseth hit it with his left knee. That led to a scramble with a defender, and then the ball was just sitting there for me. I tried to swing it toward the net and luckily it went in. For me it was a great goal to start us off tonight."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER PAT ONSTAD
On the Quakes' undefeated season at home:
"It is a pretty special accomplishment, but at the same time it takes some of the luster off of it when you blow a 2-0 lead at home. However, we think we are pretty tough to beat here. It is a tight field and the fans are right on top of you, which makes it seem even tighter. We are very comfortable here and it is a tough place to play. Now, the way to get to the MLS Cup Final is to go through San Jose, and that is what our goal was going into the regular season, to make sure we have that advantage, and we have done that."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD JULIAN NASH
On first career MLS goal:
"I made a diagonal run and Ronald [Cerritos] played it right to my foot. I took a touch and just tried to hit it low and hard and it found the side netting."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER MARK CHUNG
On winning the Supporters' Shield:
"It means a lot to this team. We have gone through a lot of stuff this year. No one ever thought that we would be at this point. Everyone thought that we were a team that was thrown together, that we were a new team. But Dominic Kinnear did a great job in organizing us, and the players have all played really well. It is hard to defend this team, we can score from any angle and from any position, so I think that is a major reason we ended up with the Supporters' Shield."
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JOHN ELLINGER
On the game:
"The effort was actually good both halves. I just think we were unlucky in the first half. Second half, the ball seemed to bounce our way for a change. It was good to see. Obviously we would have liked to have the win, but when you play the best team in the league on their home field and they're unbeaten here, we'll take a point."
On Kevin Novak's play:
"He played an exceptional game. He played well. He really stepped up and was able to score a goal. I thought he just had a great game from start to finish."
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER KEVIN NOVAK
On scoring his first MLS goal:
"It's really fun. It's exciting. I know the goal was kind of an interesting one, a little kind of cross off the post and in. It was fun to finally get a good start, there was a good crowd out there. Hopefully I'll get a few more of those in the future."
REAL SALT LAKE DEFENDER BRIAN DUNSETH
On Real Salt Lake's performance:
"In the first half, we gave up a couple of chances and they punished us. But in the second half we just locked it down and played well. Kevin scored a great goal. It was kind of a lucky goal, but at the same time he put it in a place that could cause problems. We were fortunate enough to finally come out with a result. We came out with the heart of a lion and got the result."
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER ANDY WILLIAMS
On the second half and his goal:
"John [Ellinger] just told us to go out the last 45 minutes ... and make a statement. Jamie [Watson] played it through and I knew Melvin [Tarley] was going to run to the near post, so I faked to the near post and then peeled off to the back. I guess Jamie saw me so he sent it over and all I could do was get a foot on it."
