SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Ricardo Clark has been selected as the Maggiano's Player of the Month for the month of July the team announced Tuesday at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in Santana Row in San Jose. Earthquakes midfielder Mark Chung earned the team's Goal of the Month for his game-winning July 20 blast in Colorado against the Rapids.
Clark, who was also recognized as the Honda MLS Player Of The Month of July by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA), was a key factor in the Quakes 3-1-1 month of July that saw the team move up the table in the Western Conference.
Clark began the month of July with a goal and an assist as the Quakes overcame two one-goal deficits and earned a 2-2 tie with FC Dallas on the road on July 2, despite playing a man down for the final 56 minutes. Clark's goal in that match, a drive into the upper corner, was chosen by fans as the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week through voting on MLSnet.com. On July 9 against the Columbus Crew, Clark set up teammate Ronald Cerritos' winning goal by streaking past Crew defender Chad Marshall and delivering a perfect cross into the box, as San Jose stretched its unbeaten streak to seven games with the 2-1 victory.
The Atlanta, GA native finished the month with two strong performances that saw San Jose defeat the Colorado Rapids on the road and the MetroStars at home, both by 2-1 margins. Only 22 years old, Clark has become one of the top central midfielders in MLS, combining his ability to cover ground and break up opponent's attacks with great skill going forward.
Chung won the Earthquakes Goal of the Month for his goal in the 73rd minute on July 20 against Colorado that proved to be the game-winner against his former club. Dwayne De Rosario started the play with a long dribbling run, which attracted three Rapids defenders, leaving Chung wide open at the top of the box. De Rosario passed the ball to the unmarked Chung, who one-timed the shot past Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon and into the far corner of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
The Earthquakes will look to maintain the best record in Major League Soccer this Saturday, August 13, when they host the Colorado Rapids at Spartan Stadium at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game will air live on radio on 1590 AM KLIV (English) and 1370 AM KZSF (Spanish).
