we've got to take our chances. We had too many good chances not to take them. They had two chances and scored them both," said Burn coach Colin Clarke. "That's where they are and that's why they've won the MLS championship twice out of the last three years. I'm proud of my boys tonight -- they were absolutely magnificent and I know they (San Jose) are happy to get out of here with three points. If we play like that every game we're going to win a lot more than we're going to lose."
Clarke made two changes to the team that lost 3-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy the week before at the Cotton Bowl. Cory Gibbs was again out with a groin strain, as Matt Behncke moved into central defense and Chris Gbandi again came in at left back. Bobby Rhine made his first start of the 2004 season, coming in for Toni Nhleko to partner Eddie Johnson in attack.
Here's Clarke's team (4-4-2): Scott Garlick - Philip Salyer, Matt Behncke, Steve Jolley, Chris Gbandi (Jason Kreis 60) - Ronnie O'Brien, Simo Valakari, Brad Davis (Ramon Nunez 85), Eric Quill (Oscar Pareja 60) - Eddie Johnson, Bobby Rhine.
"(Rhine can) bring the midfield into it more. He is better able to bring Ronnie and Davis forward into the play more and not just go over the top all the time. I liked what he did in that respect," Clarke said.
One small point of concern for the Burn has been their left flank, as compared to their right. The Gibbs injury situation has caused some unsettled times at fullback, and Eric Quill hasn't been as effective as Ronnie O'Brien on the other side.
"Eric is a different kind of player. He makes good passes, strong runs forward and gets behind defenders. We need to be better about finding him and working him into the game. We have been working on that, but need to get better," Clarke said. "Ronnie and EJ have been on the same page, we need to get on that same page with Quill."
The Burn were held scoreless for the second time in three weeks, after two impressive victories against Chicago away and Kansas City (at home). "We're doing all the things right; we just need to finish our chances," Johnson said. "I thought we created enough. We just didn't finish."
