San Jose’s 3-1 win over New York at Red Bull Arena Thursday night left about 22,000 home fans and probably some league and broadcast executives silenced. The dream Los Angeles-New York final is no more with the eastern half bowing out, but San Jose showed that at their best they are well worth the price of admission.
As seen on GOL TV Canada, the Earthquakes, led by Canadian coach Frank Yallop, reversed the first leg 1-0 deficit and earned a spot in the Eastern Conference final with a 3-2 aggregate victory. They managed to separate steely determination from recklessness (Chris Wondolowski didn’t seem impressed with the worldly résumé of Rafael Marquez), then finally allowed speed and skill to rule the night.
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What’s particularly shocking is that New York was in complete control of this tie during the opening fixture in Santa Clara last week. In the return match the Red Bulls seemed to underestimate San Jose players’ appetite for a fight. A few key points from the night:
Bobby Convey
Tremors were felt inside the opening six minutes when Convey put the aggregate score on level terms by giving San Jose a 1-0 lead. He added a second goal to put the Quakes ahead over two games, and then finally helped shake off the Red Bulls by setting up Chris Wondolowski for the third.
It was a brilliant individual performance by the 27-year old once touted in his youth to be a top American star in Europe. Injuries decimated Convey’s career over the years, limiting his appearances with Reading in England as the club bounced between the Championship and the English Premier League. Returning to MLS last season – he had started his career with D.C. – Convey has found new life and is making the most of it.
Tim Ream
Much was made at the start of this match about this being a ‘statement game’ for Ream, who lost the league’s Rookie of the Year award to the electric Andy Najar – a deserved winner and probably the best non-Mexican teenage footballer on the continent. Ream played well for much of the game and received the typically fawning accolades from U.S. commentators who were making him out to be the American equivalent of Marcel Desailly.
[inline_node:5322]It all ended when Convey turned him inside out for the second goal, exposing Ream’s poor positioning. Ream is a good player and it’s not his fault that the star spangled commentary at ESPN rates him higher than they should. Hopefully the final 15 minutes of this match will have injected some much needed perspective to those experiencing Ream-vision.
Juan Pablo Angel
Nobody in MLS has scored more goals than Angel over the last four years. If this was the Colombian star’s final match in a New York shirt – as he indicated it will be – he has served them well right to the end, tying up the aggregate with a 78th minute strike that proved to be for naught. It will be a great loss to MLS if Angel doesn’t remain in the league next season and a greater one for New York if he is allowed to walk.
Another Great Juan
Last week I praised the work of 17-year old New York forward Juan Agudelo. The Colombian-born U.S. junior star even caught the attention of the New York Times. Agudelo was fearless once more, bullying experienced defender Jason Hernandez throughout the night on way to hitting the post and later setting up Angel’s goal with an inch-perfect cross.
The Conference System
Just as New York was the ‘Western Conference’ champion two years ago, San Jose now has a chance to be the ‘Eastern Conference’ winner on way to MLS Cup Final. Even more comical is the idea that should Colorado dispose of Columbus this weekend, the Eastern Final will be played in Commerce City between a team from the Rocky Mountains and another from California. Yes, that’s the Eastern Final.
Can we please have a single league table now?
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