MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2004 - D.C. UNITED 1, SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On the match:
"It was really a tale of two halves today. We came out and played well in the first half and created a lot of chances, but in the second half they had more possession than we did. I felt that overall we had more clear-cut scoring chances than they did though."
On the changes to his starting lineup:
"I felt that the changes that we made worked out well, especially in the first half. Brian Ching did a great job of holding the ball and a lot of our attack went through him."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER TROY DAYAK
On scoring his team's goal:
"I felt like I was getting dialed in - I knew that I was going to get one today. I told a few people to put the ball in front of me. I keep saying if you get the ball in front of me I am going to get to it first. I hit one wide and one over the top and the third one was a charm."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER BRIAN MULLAN
On his team's improvement:
"Every game we are getting better. Our level continues to improve. We are getting chances and the team is starting to play better - it is just a matter of time. A tie at home is not what we want but it gives us a point. Certainly we are disappointed not having won but it will come."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER CHRIS BROWN
On his first game in San Jose:
"It has been a while since I've played a game, over a month, but I felt pretty good out there. I am starting to click with the team. I think that we deserved three points, but that's the way it goes sometimes."
On the match:
"Once we get a lead we need to hold on to it, and we need to finish our chances. We had two or three great chances in the first half and we could have gone in at halftime up 2-0 or 3-0 and then it is a different game. We have to take our chances and finish them when we can."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD BRIAN CHING
On the final result:
"It's unfortunate that we didn't come away with three points. I think we should have probably put away a few more chances in the first half and then we wouldn't have had the problem of them coming back in the second half."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER RONNIE EKELUND
On the match:
"We were obviously happy to go in at halftime 1-0 up but in the second half I think maybe we took our foot off the pedal a little bit, just enough to let them in the game. We are obviously a little disappointed - we got one point but our standards are high at home. We want to get three points and we didn't get that today."
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On the result:
"I thought it was a very good game. We scored a good goal, and I thought that we earned this point. Everyone was on the same page today, so that is encouraging to see. So far this season we have got four points out of the two games against the defending MLS Cup champions, so I am pleased."
On deciding to start Freddy Adu:
"I felt that we had to give him a chance. He has worked hard and I thought that he earned it and I wanted to play him with Jaime [Moreno] from the first minute so he could show the soccer world what he can do."
On Adu's performance:
"I am sure that he could have done better, but it is his first start and he did some nice things. I am proud of him because he showed that he can play from the start of the game, and he helped us play well as a team."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD FREDDY ADU
On his first start:
"I am just so happy. It is just a great feeling to be able to go out there from the start of the game and play, it is what I have been working so hard for."
On his performance:
"I felt I played OK. I know that I could have done some things better, but we all make some mistakes. I just tried to go at them and play the way I want to play from the beginning of the game."
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER NICK RIMANDO
On the result:
"It is hard to get a point here in San Jose. It is always a tough place to play and do well. Obviously, we came in here wanting to get three points, but we got one and we will take it. We fought hard and I think we had some chances to get some more goals, but Pat [Onstad] made some nice saves."
