(Nick) LaBrocca, (Colin) Clark, (John) DiRaimondo, (Kosuke) Kimura out of the back - are all from reserve team, all doing outstanding," Clavijo said. "... Everybody worked together as a team, pulling in the same direction. I told them if you lose playing like that you have to keep your head up -- but if you play like that you won't lose too many. I am extremely proud, but there are still 27 games left to go -- nothing yet, we've just started."
• LaBrocca said the absence of a large number of veterans might have helped. Defenders Mike Petke (foot) and Ugo Ihemelu (hip) remain out, Pablo Mastroeni is also out with an abdominal injury, and Conor Casey will out for another month with a knee injury.
• "It's better to be in the team with the guys I know and played with in the reserves instead of stepping into the team and trying to fit in," LaBrocca said.
• The Rapids have now gotten goals from their two holding midfielders - DiRaimondo and LaBrocca - in back-to-back matches.
• "They have been given opportunities and I always say opportunities will be given and it's up to them to take it and run with it. (John) DiRaimondo scored last week, (Nick) LaBrocca today. They have big shoes to fill and we have guys that are eager to step into the lineup," Clavijo said. "We have a good group and I am proud of them."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The return of the San Jose Earthquakes to the Bay Area was spoiled as the Chicago Fire scored the game's only goal in their home opener in Oakland on Saturday afternoon. The Earthquakes are still looking for their first points, and first goals, after two matches, sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference.
LAST MATCH
• At McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, the Earthquakes were making their return to the Bay Area for the first time in two years after opening the season with a loss at the LA Galaxy, while the Fire had a draw and a win already to their credit.
• A very warm day in northern California saw the game's only goal come early. Cuauhtemoc Blanco's through ball played Tomasz Frankowski in alone on goal, but Joe Cannon stopped the initial shot. But Chad Barrett was quickest to it and slid the ball underneath the Quakes 'keeper.
• The Fire withstood a late rally, as two shots San Jose hit the woodwork in the closing seconds and Shea Salinas somehow put a rebound of the second over the bar from just a yard or two away from the goal.
• Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop made one change to the team that lost 2-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the club's first match back. Gavin Glinton made the start in attack, in place of rookie Shea Salinas.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Jason Hernandez (John Cunliffe 85), Ryan Cochrane, Nick Garcia, James Riley - Ronnie O'Brien, Ned Grabavoy (Ryan Johnson 79), Ramiro Corrales, Ivan Guerrero (Shea Salinas 59) - Kei Kamara, Gavin Glinton. Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Eric Denton, Adam Smarte, Joe Vide
• "Obviously the point of soccer is winning, but I am very pleased and proud of the way the guys played today. I think that for us to come out and play that well on both sides of the ball, we should have gotten something out of the game," Yallop said.
TEAM NEWS
• The Earthquakes held a 19-9 edge in attempts at goal, but had eight on target to seven for the Fire. "We increased the number of good chances today from last week and that was encouraging. The energy was great, the commitment to play well was there, and we are a new team that is building and learning. We did enough to get something out of that match not only a draw, but in the chances we had we should have scored at least two goals, but it wasn't meant to be."
• Of course, the big talking point after the game was the Salinas miss from the doorstep in the waning moments. The 15th overall pick in the 2008 SuperDraft, Salinas had started the opening match against Los Angeles, then came on for the final half-hour in the home opener.
• "I'm definitely not going to be logging on to any blogs anytime soon, so please be nice, I'm sorry I missed," said Salinas with a rueful smile. "I really do feel bad. I feel like I cost the team a point, and I won't miss again." Said Yallop: "He might have nightmares about that shot, but Shea's a good young player who made a huge difference when he came on the field. Look at his performance rather than the one chance he missed."
• In addition, the Quakes saw two efforts hit the woodwork. Three expansion teams have now started their history without a goal in their first two games - Miami Fusion in 1998 and Toronto FC last year. It took the Fusion 296 minutes before they hit for their first goal; 387 minutes for TFC.
• "I think if we weren't playing well, then the pressure comes," said forward Gavin Glinton. "But today, I thought we played really well. It's just a matter of one of those going in, and then the clouds will lift and then [the goals] will start to fall."
• The Quakes held the majority of the possession and, for the most part, limited Fire playmaker Cuauhtémoc Blanco to areas where he could not do much damage.
• "It was night and day really," said Yallop of the Quakes' performance. "We were over our stage-fright from last week. I'm not too sure where that came from, but it was there. I felt real pleased that we were on the front foot, and I think that that was important."
• It was the Quakes return to the Bay Area, the first of three matches at McAfee Coliseum. The club now hits the road again for two games before making their bow at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, where they will play the majority of their home matches this season.
• "It was great to be back here. You get a lump in your throat when you see the guys coming out onto the field. The fans were great today and they were behind the team. They saw a team that tried hard and played well and that is what they want," said Yallop. Added Ramiro Corrales: "The fans were great today. They gave us great support and we are excited to be playing in front of them again. Hopefully, we can get a better result next game."
