On Oct. 29, 2005, a 1-1 draw at Spartan Stadium saw the San Jose Earthquakes eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs by a 4-2 aggregate score at the hands of their long-time rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy. The two combatants didn't know it at the time, but it would be almost 2-1/2 years until they met again.
Since then, the San Jose team was moved to Houston, the club left for dead, and then miraculously revived through local owners Lew Wolff and John Fisher. On Thursday, the Quakes will celebrate their long-awaited return to the MLS fold when they take on Los Angeles at The Home Depot Center.
That the two rivals would meet up after such a long hiatus is far from being the only irony present. Quakes head coach Frank Yallop will be returning to the site of his 2003 MLS Cup triumph with San Jose. Yet The Home Depot Center was also the venue for his greatest disappointment as a coach, that being last year's failure by L.A. to make the playoffs.
Landon Donovan, who has played the role of both hero and villain to San Jose fans will be lining up for the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Ned Grabavoy, whose goal for the Galaxy that chilly October night effectively killed off the series, will be on the field for the revamped Quakes.
Yet such incongruities are the last things on the minds of the San Jose players. The here and now is their primary focus, and Thursday can't come soon enough.
"I think we're as ready as we can be," said defender Nick Garcia. "I think the preseason is a little too long, but I think we've gotten good results. I don't think they're indicative of how we're going to do during the season because preseason is preseason, but I think we've gotten off on the right foot."
The Quakes will be taking on an L.A. side still smarting from last weekend's 4-0 walloping at the hands of the Colorado Rapids. It was a scoreline that revealed the Galaxy's fragility in midfield and defense. And compounding matters was the news that striker Carlos Ruiz underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday after injuring his knee late in the match.
But rather than see a team in disarray, Yallop sees a Galaxy side that created its share of chances and barely missed turning the game in their favor.
"The game was in the balance at 1-0, and then [L.A.] didn't get the breaks," said Yallop. "They've got some talented players that are dangerous, and they're going to be desperate to do well at home."
Yallop would be in a position to know given his time last year with the Galaxy. Foremost among the danger-men are Donovan and David Beckham; Donovan because of his pace and Beckham through his accurate long passing. The wide dimensions would figure to accentuate both of those attributes, which according to Ryan Cochrane makes it tough on defenders.
"You don't want to get too close to guys," said Cochrane. "If you get too tight, they're gone, especially with [Donovan]. He makes these checking runs to the ball and then he'll just dart straight behind you, and he can get away from you."
The Quakes have their own compliment of quick players, with the likely frontline tandem of Kei Kamara and Shea Salinas possessing the kind of pace that can pose problems for L.A.'s back line. But the real key to coping with a big field will be possessing the ball and making the Galaxy chase.
"What we've got to do is move the ball quickly so we can expose and get at teams," said Yallop. "But we have to play well in order to expose them."
If San Jose can execute on Yallop's game plan, then for Quakes fans, Thursday's match will be one worth waiting for.
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
