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Quakes Are Back

After a couple of off years, the San Jose Earthquakes are off to a good start

AT PRESSTIME, the San Jose Earthquakes were headed into last Saturday’s home match against Toronto FC with their best start since their Major League Soccer championship era, from 2001–03. With a 5-2-1 record and four straight shutouts, coach Frank Yallop is finally seeing the boys play like he wants them to play.

During Yallop’s first stint as the Quakes coach, San Jose won two titles in three years. When Yallop returned to the fold in 2008, the expected struggles of a newly pieced-together team emerged, with the squad finishing last in the West for two straight seasons.

But things are different this year. After a home-opener hammering by defending champs Real Salt Lake, the Quakes have visibly improved. Bobby Convey has returned to form, wreaking havoc on the left side. Capt. Ramiro Corrales seems to have rediscovered himself. Veteran keeper Joe Cannon has emerged as a leader once again, spearheading one of the league stingiest defenses. Chris Wondolowski, essentially a third-string forward when the season began, went on to score a goal in four out of five straight games. Thirty-six-year-old Brazilian Andre Luiz shows flashes of incomparable poise on the ball, while his sideman in the middle, Brandon McDonald, is settling in effectively.

During both 2008 and 2009, it took the team more than half the season to manufacture five wins and now they’ve accomplished that feat in just eight games. What’s more, the team isn’t even at full strength yet. Arturo Alvarez, who possesses one of the league’s most treacherous left-footed shots, is just returning from an injury. The much-heralded Brazilian superstar Eduardo has only appeared in one match so far.

Quakes supporters are even more dedicated then ever. They run around the stadium waving flags. They bash on drums and sing all the right chants. Even in a small-capacity venue like Buck Shaw, they make their voices heard.

If the Quakes can stay healthy, they are on the road to the classic championship form of old. If or when they do, it will be a boon for Major League Soccer and for San Jose.

The Quakes play FC Dallas June 5 in Dallas at 5:30pm.