The Earthquakes on Saturday night entertained a sold-out crowd with pre-match ceremonies replicating those of 1996 & honoring the Clash in the 20th anniversary of MLS' first game. The game itself saw the Quakes down a goal despite providing most of the pressure in the first half. Late in the second half, though, Adam Jahn slid to redirect a Shea Salinas cross in the 88th minute to level the game at 1-1, and that's just how it finished. The Quakes are now in a four-way tie for 4th place in the Western Conference with 7 points at 2-1-1.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On finishing with a draw:
“I thought even at halftime we were probably good for a couple goals, and to come in with nothing, down, was a little bit mind-boggling. We were kind of shaking our heads as to how that happened. But they took their chance well and we let them off the hook with our finishing. We were creating a lot of chances. I just told the guys keep the same energy, we’re going to get chances, keep fighting for second balls dropping at midfield, and I thought the effort tonight was great.”
On what he told Adam Jahn before entering the match:
“To score a goal, and he listened tonight. No, it was that we were playing a little more direct for the last 20 minutes or so and a lot of balls were falling so I thought maybe with Adam we could get a little more territory by his height holding up the ball. His finish was great and I even think at the end there with the long throw he was the one who flicked on for Chris [Wondolowski] to kind of come through. But I think during that time it helped to have Adam’s height.”
On if Tommy Thompson and Adam Jahn’s loans to Sacramento helped their play:
“I know something like that helps them, [Mercury News writer] Elliott [Almond]. It’s a fair point, you know. I thought both of them looked very sharp in practice this week. Talking to Paul Buckle, the coach for Sacramento, he said they both performed very well and both had good weeks of training with the team. So, I think any time you get game minutes it gives you more confidence, and I thought they had a good little bounce in their step this week in practice and I think it’s the reason why they looked confident stepping on the field tonight.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD ADAM JAHN
On equalizing goal:
“When you are a sub, you want to come in and change the game. It was a great opportunity to go in and make something happen. That’s what the coaches told me, ‘Go in and score a goal.’”
On the match:
“Watching the whole game, we were so close. We had so many opportunities. I knew it was just a matter of time that we were going to score. Towards the end of the game, you see the defense getting tired and not following runners as well and that’s what happened. Shea [Salinas] played a near post ball, I was able to get some separation and get the goal.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ALBERTO QUINTERO
On the match:
“I felt it went well because the team played well. We couldn’t take advantage of our chances and we almost had nothing to show for it. We ended up tying a game that was escaping us, but our play deserved that important point.”
On midfield play:
“Our midfielders played well on the ball and Matias [Perez Garcia] is a high-caliber player to have in our midfield. It’s important to build that relationship on the field with him as I am adjusting step by step. I applaud our midfield tonight and I look forward to better games ahead.”
