SAN JOSE, Calif. -
Earthquakes forward Quincy Amarikwa says he didn’t watch much soccer on TV growing up in Bakersfield, but he played the game a lot.
The extra effort paid off as he became a polished goal scorer, even if he didn’t daydream much as a youth about competing for famed European clubs such as Manchester United.
- Fan Guide:Quakes vs. Manchester United
Tuesday night the Red Devils will be standing right in front of Amarikwa in the International Champions Cup North America. The matchup could represent a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some of the Quakes.
“These games are good because it gives you the chance to play against some of the best teams in the world and show the quality that we can have here in the MLS,” Amarikwa said. “But it’s difficult when they come in the middle of a tough schedule like we have. The point is to show well, have fun, but also keep guys fresh for our conference game on Sunday.”
Amarikwa, who is settling in with the Quakes after being picked up in a trade with Chicago, says he became a fan of MLS once he came to the league.
“I watch a lot of MLS,” he said. “I’ve always known that Manchester United is a big team and a big club with a lot of big-name players, but I haven’t followed them enough to really say (that it was something he strived for).”
Quakes left back Jordan Stewart knows Man United well. He remembers facing the Red Devils when he played for Leicester City in the English Premier League about 12 years ago.
“When I started playing in the ‘Prem’ they were always the team that was winning the trophies, so those were the players and the teams that you were watching all the time. They had great players, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ryan Giggs. … You knew it was going to be a difficult game, but you’d try and do well.”
Stewart said Leicester would always play a 3-5-2 back them, a rare formation in the premiership.
“We had good players on our team as well,” Stewart said. “Man U is one of those teams that is renowned throughout the world. They’re always going to have great players.”
While the Quakes should have a fitness advantage against the touring Red Devils, they are also looking to preserve their players for the match at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday.
Amarikwa, originally a third-round draft pick by the Quakes in 2009, is coming off his most productive season in MLS with the Fire. He scored a team-leading eight goals and added five assists. He scored in the season opener at Chivas USA on March 9.
He also had the winner against New England, leading the Fire to their first win at Gillette Stadium since 2010. Among his other highlights: He added had a 90th minute equalizer against Toronto, and scored the opening goal in a 3-3 draw against D.C. United. He scored two goals in U.S. Open Cup play.
Man United’s deep pockets and its big-name roster don’t give Amarikwa any extra motivation to beat them, he says.
“I think you come out to every game just wanting to win, regardless if it’s the worst team in the league or the best team in the world,” he said. “Maybe there’s a bit more excitement around the game because more people are watching and it’s a bigger spotlight, but I think the willingness and the drive win is the same regardless.”
In the Quakes’ 5-2 loss to the LA Galaxy on Friday, Amarikwa scored twice in a short span in the first half. The first goal was on a beautiful one-time hit off a quick Sanna Nyassi cross from the right; the second came off a Matias Perez Garcia service into the mixer that the Galaxy couldn’t clear.
But Amarikwa said in the aftermath he’d rather have had others on the team score and win than to score twice and lose.
That’s the kind of team spirit Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear can appreciate.
