Looking nothing like a team that had yet to score a goal on the season, the San Jose Earthquakes rode an opportunistic offense and a solid defense to shut out the formerly first-place Colorado Rapids 2-0 Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Showing no fear of either the first-place Rapids or the altitude, the Earthquakes got goals from Ronnie O'Brien in the first half and Kei Kamara in the second to earn their first win on the season, and the first victory since the club's rebirth after a two-year hiatus.
The early portion of the game was disjointed, with each team probing the other's defense but gaining little from their forays other than fouls and goal kicks. Each team concentrated their attacks primarily through long balls down the middle and on their respective left flanks, with San Jose's Ivan Guerrero being particularly active.
That initial shot seemed to wake up the Rapids attack, which was much more active from that point. In the 27th minute, off a quick restart, Colin Clark was sprung free down the wing, but his shot from a tight angle inside the box hit the side netting.
The Earthquakes nearly snuck a goal in the 29th minute as a Guerrero cross found O'Brien unmarked near the top of the goal area. Stephen Keel made a good recovery and his dive forced O'Brien to take a dribble and make an awkward left-footed shot that beat 'keeper Bouna Coundoul but curled wide across the face of the goal.
The left flank of the Earthquakes continued to create good chances in the final minutes of the half. In the 32nd minute, Guerrero sent a great cross into a wide-open Gavin Glinton, but Keel again made a great recovery and intervened before Glinton could control the ball. A minute later, Guerrero and Glinton combined again well and sent a cross that found O'Brien, but his volley attempt was poorly taken and went nowhere near the net.
In the 38th minute Kei Kamara was very unlucky not to have scored when he slid to meet a strong cross sent in by O'Brien. Coundoul was able to block the shot, which caromed off of the crossbar and out to safety.
Glinton looked to have scored the Earthquakes' first goal in the 39th minute, as he beat Coundoul to a long ball outside the top of the box. His goal, however, was called back when the assistant referee ruled he had handled the bouncing ball as he rounded the Rapids 'keeper.
O'Brien finally ended the Earthquakes' drought in the 43rd minute. From the center of the field, James Riley played a through ball to O'Brien, who was yet again wide open. Coundoul was able to block the initial angled shot from the right, but O'Brien followed his own rebound to put the ball in the net for his, and his team's, first goal of the season.
Cummings nearly evened the game in the 45th minute with a rocket from the corner of the box, but Earthquakes 'keeper Joe Cannon was well positioned to gobble the ball up.
O'Brien nearly got his second moments later as an unwise Facundo Erpen ball across the back of the box was intercepted by O'Brien, but Coundoul did well to dive and save the hard shot.
The Rapids made two changes at halftime, trying to get their offense started by bringing on forward Herculez Gomez and midfielder Rafael Gomes for fullback Kosuke Kimura and midfielder John DiRaimondo, who was injured just before the break. Both newcomers got involved in the action early, as in the 48th minute Gomes left a ball for Herculez Gomez at the top of the box. Gomez's chip, however, went just wide of the post.
Trying to protect their first lead of the season, Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop made a defensive substitution in the 56th minute, bringing on midfielder Joe Vide for Glinton.
Herculez Gomez had another good chance in the 58th minute, taking a half-volley off of a well weighted ball from Clark. Gomez's shot, although strong, went well over the bar. Clark was again involved in the 61st minute, running across the box to try and flick in a low Gomes pass.
The Earthquakes weathered the storm and extended their lead in the 61st minute. After a strong run, holding off a pair of Colorado defenders, Ned Grabavoy sent Kamara through into the box. Kamara was able to outpace Erpen and avoid a sliding Coundoul and slot the ball neatly into the net before Keel could make one more miraculous recovery.
Nick LaBrocca nearly put some life back into the game for the Rapids in the 69th minute. His hard shot from 25 yards beat Cannon but, luckily for San Jose, hit the far upper corner of the goalpost before bouncing out of danger.
The Rapids continued to attack but, with the exception of two Jacob Peterson attempts (a header in the 83rd minute that Cannon cleanly collected and a stoppage time volley that went just over the bar), the Earthquakes were able to destroy any of Colorado's attempts before they turned into viable chances.
After weathering five minutes of stoppage time, the Earthquakes emerged with their first win of the season and three road points as the expansion team tightened up the Western Conference table.
Geoffry Urland is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
