San Jose Fight Back From Two Goals Down to Earn a Point

In a matchup of two teams heading in opposite directions, United were a bit fortuitous to take the early lead, as a questionable penalty call and offsides ruling allowed them to go ahead, with two goals from influential playmaker Christian Gomez. But the second goal seemed to wake up the San Jose side, who then dominated the proceedings throughout much of the rest of the game. They scored a vital goal in the 37th minute for Johnson, which enabled them to carry their momentum through the half. In the second half, San Jose completely outclassed United, and the Earthquakes might have just been unlucky not to secure the three points on the day.

United were still without playmaker Santino Quaranta, who is still away with the US national team for the Gold Cup. San Jose had to scratch winger Arturo Alvarez late with an injury, making room for Bobby Convey in the starting eleven.

First Half

As with many of the opening stanzas of their games this season, D.C. United came out earlier looking to strike, and were rewarded a somewhat dubious penalty in the 2nd minute. Mike Zaher was adjudged to have taken down United striker Luciano Emilio in the box, although the decision looked questionable at best. Emilio and Christian Gomez fought over who would take the penalty kick, and in the end, Gomez won the argument. Gomez made the decision look like the right one, as he sent keeper Joe Cannon the wrong way, giving United an early 1-0 lead.

D.C. continued to pile the pressure on, as San Jose seemed content to allow D.C. to attack, whilst looking to catch United on the counter attack. However, United were able to control the tempo, and created several more chances, with Fred firing straight at Cannon, and Emilio nearly breaking through on goal, only to be stopped by a terrific tackle from Jason Hernandez.

San Jose's first dangerous moment came from a free kick in the 15th minute. With Darren Huckerby and new signing Ramon Sanchez standing over a free kick from 25 yards out, Sanchez tried to test United keeper Josh Wicks. Sanchez' shot was on target, but Wicks was equal to the effort, and was able to hold onto the shot, to prevent any further danger.

Gomez made San Jose regret their decision to sit back and defend, when he scored his second goal of the night in the 22nd minute. United forward Chris Pontius had a shot blocked, and the ball fell to Gomez in the middle of the box, wide open. There was a question of offsides, but no call was made, and Gomez was easily able to beat Cannon, giving United a two goal cushion, as they looked like putting away the hapless Earthquakes.

The second goal, had the opposite affect however. It seemed to wake up San Jose, as they began to apply pressure farther up field, and possessed the ball longer, and with more efficiency. San Jose failed to create any clear cut chances for the next fifteen minutes, but the momentum was switching back to them, despite being down by two goals.

With the pressure being applied by San Jose, the goal eventually came in the 37th minute. San Jose had a throw in on the left side, which was thrown to Zaher, who put a dangerous cross into the box. Glen flicked a header to the back post, and Johnson was able to beat his man to the ball, and slot a shot past Wicks, invigorating the team and fans, as United's lead was cut in half.

Unfortunately for San Jose, that was Johnson's last contribution of the match. Shortly after, he sprained his shoulder going for a Huckerby cross, and was forced to be replaced by Chris Wondolowski in the 41st minute.

San Jose had two chances to level the game in the dying moments of the first half, but Bobby Convey had a guilt edged miss as a loose ball fell to him in the box, which he was unable to steer on target. Glen then got a header on a Huckerby cross, but Wicks was able to make the save, ensuring that United went in at half with the lead, although momentum was clearly favoring the Earthquakes.

Second Half

San Jose picked up where they left off in the first half, and began bossing the game around completely. United were unable to sustain any sort of possession as they had been able to in the first half, which allowed San Jose the better of the opportunities in the second half.

Glen had the best chance for San Jose in the opening part of the second half, as a long ball was flicked onto his path in the 52nd minute. But with pressure being applied, he was unable to challenge Wicks, as his shot from inside of the box went into the side netting. San Jose continued to frustrate United, but without creating any chances for the next ten minutes.

The game completely changed then, in the 62nd minute, as United winger Rodney Wallace was called for a handball in the box. Wallace clearly handled the cross from a corner kick, and the referee immediately blew his whistle to award San Jose the spot kick. Glen took the honors, and sent Wicks the wrong way, leveling the game at 2-2.

Despite this, the game then slowed to a more controlled pace, as both teams seemed tentative, afraid of conceding the next goal, as opposed to looking to score the next goal. Neither team had any clear cut chances for the rest of the match, although San Jose was the more adventurous of the two teams, as United seemed content with their point on the road.

After two minutes of stoppage time, the game ended, with both teams picking up a point from a 2-2 draw.

Steven Streff, Goal.com