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San Jose Earthquakes Look For Positives From FC Dallas Stalemate
Despite earning only one point at home against FC Dallas, the Earthquakes put in a fine defensive display that left the team feeling confident about its playoff chances.
Sep 12, 2010 1:41:00 AM
By Nick Rosano
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After a hard fought draw in which San Jose missed a number of opportunities to gain three points against a FC Dallas team now unbeaten in 14 matches, the players and head coach Frank Yallop emphasized the positive play the Earthquakes showed throughout the match rather than focusing on missed opportunities.
The defense in particular pleased Yallop, with another clean sheet meaning the Earthquakes haven't conceded at home since a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC on July 31. Yallop was quick to highlight the way the defense shut down the dual threat of Brek Shea and David Ferreira.
"Excellent," he said, when asked his opinion on his back four. "They're facing two of the most potent players in the league and handled them well, very well."
Goalkeeper Jon Busch, who made a number of crucial saves throughout the month of August to propel his team into the thick of the playoff race, had much less to do this time around. He also gave credit to the defense.
"I thought defensively we played very well tonight," he commented. "It was one of our best games and I didn't really have to see much."
The result takes San Jose up to 33 points, ahead of eighth-placed Seattle on tiebreakers and five points clear of Toronto FC, ninth in the overall standings. Yallop was happy to take anything that would help them in the playoff race, pointing out, "For us, it's another point towards the playoffs."
Yallop also praised the spirit the players have shown throughout the recent games, saying, "[The team] is looking like it's sticking together well and looking like a real team that knows their destiny, that they can pull it together to make the playoffs."
Nonetheless, many in the Earthquakes' locker room saw the need to improve in order for the team to continue to contend in the playoff race. Midfield Brad Ring explained, "We want to get three points at home every time we play at home, and we felt like we could have got three points tonight."
One area in particular that will require practice is finishing. Despite winning three of the last four games prior to the game against Dallas, the Earthquakes won those games by one goal margins and only managed four goals. Busch emphasized the lack of goals as an area of focus prior to San Jose's upcoming midweek match against Philadelphia.
"I thought we played some good soccer tonight, just couldn't get on the end of it in their 18," the goalkeeper said.
Ring shared the sentiment while looking forward to the week ahead.
"I'm sure we're gonna work on some finishing," he predicted. "We do that quite a bit, and fine tune some things here and there. Hopefully Wednesday [we'll] play the same way that we did, but put one away."
Nick Rosano is a NorCal-based contributor for Goal.com. Follow him on Twitter @nicholasrosano for more MLS insight and the occasional moment of hilarity.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
The defense in particular pleased Yallop, with another clean sheet meaning the Earthquakes haven't conceded at home since a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC on July 31. Yallop was quick to highlight the way the defense shut down the dual threat of Brek Shea and David Ferreira.
"Excellent," he said, when asked his opinion on his back four. "They're facing two of the most potent players in the league and handled them well, very well."
Goalkeeper Jon Busch, who made a number of crucial saves throughout the month of August to propel his team into the thick of the playoff race, had much less to do this time around. He also gave credit to the defense.
"I thought defensively we played very well tonight," he commented. "It was one of our best games and I didn't really have to see much."
The result takes San Jose up to 33 points, ahead of eighth-placed Seattle on tiebreakers and five points clear of Toronto FC, ninth in the overall standings. Yallop was happy to take anything that would help them in the playoff race, pointing out, "For us, it's another point towards the playoffs."
Yallop also praised the spirit the players have shown throughout the recent games, saying, "[The team] is looking like it's sticking together well and looking like a real team that knows their destiny, that they can pull it together to make the playoffs."
Nonetheless, many in the Earthquakes' locker room saw the need to improve in order for the team to continue to contend in the playoff race. Midfield Brad Ring explained, "We want to get three points at home every time we play at home, and we felt like we could have got three points tonight."
One area in particular that will require practice is finishing. Despite winning three of the last four games prior to the game against Dallas, the Earthquakes won those games by one goal margins and only managed four goals. Busch emphasized the lack of goals as an area of focus prior to San Jose's upcoming midweek match against Philadelphia.
"I thought we played some good soccer tonight, just couldn't get on the end of it in their 18," the goalkeeper said.
Ring shared the sentiment while looking forward to the week ahead.
"I'm sure we're gonna work on some finishing," he predicted. "We do that quite a bit, and fine tune some things here and there. Hopefully Wednesday [we'll] play the same way that we did, but put one away."
Nick Rosano is a NorCal-based contributor for Goal.com. Follow him on Twitter @nicholasrosano for more MLS insight and the occasional moment of hilarity.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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