The San Jose Earthquakes kicked off the preseason with a 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Friday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in the Major League Soccer Central Coast Showcase. Ryan Johnson netted a pair of first-half goals for San Jose and rookie forward Quincy Amarikwa scored the winner early in the second half.
Johnson got the Quakes on the board first with a goal in the eighth minute. After receiving a ball over the top from Ned Grabavoy, he slotted a left-footed shot past Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller for a 1-0 advantage.
Fredy Montero tied the game for Seattle just minutes later. Former Quake James Riley found Nate Jaqua on the wing and he centered the ball to Montero. Montero then found the net with a shot past Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon in the 11th minute.
San Jose broke back on top through Johnson's second goal of the night. Newly-signed forward Cam Weaver headed a ball down to Johnson in the box and he slotted a shot past Keller for a 2-1 lead midway through the half.
Johnson nearly tallied his hat trick in the 31st minute after striking a shot from a narrow angle on the left that swung past Keller, but clanged off the crossbar and away from the net.
Sounders FC tied the match once again just before halftime. Montero received a pass from Sebastien Le Toux and headed a shot to the far post past Cannon for his second of the match to send the teams to the dressing rooms in a 2-2 tie.
Amarikwa netted the winner for the Earthquakes with an unassisted goal less than 40 seconds into the second half. Amarikwa, a third-round draft choice out of UC Davis of San Jose, beat the Keller one-on-one in the box for his first post-collegiate goal.
Andrew Weber, San Jose's backup keeper, came up clutch for the Earthquakes in the 85th minute, stopping a point-blank shot from Sanna Nyassi.
MLS Central Coast Showcase (Preseason)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC
February 13, 2009 - Alex G Spanos Stadium; San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Attendance: 1,557
Scoring Summary:
SJ - Ryan Johnson (Ned Grabavoy) 8; SEA - Fredy Montero (Nate Jaqua) 11; SJ - Ryan Johnson (Cam Weaver) 22; SEA - Fredy Montero (Sebastien Le Toux) 45; SJ - Quincy Amarikwa (unassisted) 46.
First Half Lineups:Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2): Kasey Keller, Taylor Graham, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl, James Riley, Steve Zakuani, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Sebastien Le Toux, Nate Jaqua, Fredy Montero.
San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-2): Joe Cannon, Eric Denton, Jamil Roberts, Ryan Cochrane, Tim Merritt, Darren Huckerby, Ramiro Corrales, Ned Grabavoy, Shea Salinas, Ryan Johnson, Cam Weaver.
Second Half Lineups:
Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2): Kasey Keller, Nathan Sturgis (Zach Scott 61), Taylor Graham (Kyle Schmid 61), Tyson Wahl (Patrick Ianni 61), James Riley (Evan Brown 61), Steve Zakuani (Roger Levesque 61), Osvaldo Alonso (Stephen King 61), Brad Evans (Ryan Caugherty 61), Sebastien Le Toux (Sanna Nyassi 61), Fredy Montero (Jeff Clark 61), Nate Jaqua (Vini Oliveira 61).
San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-2): Andrew Weber, David Hayes, Nick Garcia, Kelly Gray, Alex Zotinca, Simon Elliott, Inigo Idiakez, Arturo Alvarez, Shea Salinas (Alfonso Motagalvan 70), Quincy Amarikwa (Pablo Campos 61), David Somma.
Misconduct Summary: SEA - James Riley caution (reckless foul) 33; SJ - Inigo Idiakez (reckless foul) 90.
