Top 5: Best Games of the Season

By: Ian | November 10th, 2008

As promised, blog life continues into the off-season. Here’s a countdown of what were, in my opinion, the top five games of the season.

#5 – April 19th. At Colorado. Quakes: 2 Colorado: 0

This was the first win of our new Earthquakes (putting aside the pre-season). After back-to-back losses against L.A. and Chicago, in both cases showing an alarming lack of offensive punch, it looked to be a long and frustrating season. As I sat amongst the assembled Quakes faithful in O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub in downtown S.J., it felt like this was the thirtieth and not the third game of the season. It was obvious we had been cursed and would never score. Then O’Brien finished a rebound and the place erupted. After going up 2-0, the pub was rocking, and we were singing Quakes songs loudly and proudly.

#4 – August 16th. At home. Quakes: 4 New England: 0.

Scoreboard.

An amazing performance by the Quakes and the peak of our season. At this point it seemed as if the Cup was in our grasp, and that no one could stop our irresistible brand of football. Everything kicked into full gear in this match, and O’Brien sealed the deal with a sublime curling goal into the top left corner. Let’s remember that at this point of the season, New England were on top of the league and seen as the team to beat. If the Quakes can reach this height again next season on a consistent basis, we’ll be in the playoffs no problem.

#3 – October 25. At home. Quakes: 2 Toronto 0.

A wonderful end to the season, after a disappointing anticlimax that saw us miss out on the playoffs. All that was forgotten, however, as clearly the fans were in the mood to celebrate the end of our first season back, and the players were dedicated to going out on a high note. Ryan Cochrane, who had a bit of a shaky season, gave us the first goal, and ended the year in a solid fashion. Darren Huckerby received massive applause as he was substituted, but on this night it was Shea Salinas that really got the crowd rocking. The rookie winger gave his best performance of the season, giving his best Darren impression by terrorizing the Toronto defense with pace and cutbacks, ultimately winning a penalty which he put away with authority. After the game, Joe Cannon and the rest of the players did a lap around the stadium to say thank you to the fans.

#2 – May 22. At home. Quakes: 2 Houston: 1.

The birth of a new rivalry as the Quakes picked up their second win of the season against the defending champions. Quakes fans applauded the former San Jose players on the Houston roster as they were announced at the beginning of the match, but tempers quickly flared as the game got under way. Clearly, there were a lot of demons that needed to be exorcised, and the Quakes players gave the fans exactly what they wanted, with Ivan Guerrero and Kei Kamara providing the goals. Ironically, both players did not end the season in San Jose, with Kei Kamara eventually joining Houston and becoming a hated figure in this new rivalry.

#1 – August 3rd. At “home”. Quakes: 3 L.A. 2.

Earthquakes 3-2 over the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sunday, Aug. 3. 2008. Photo by Joe Nuxoll / centerlinesoccer.com

There was never any doubt which game would be number one on this list. After a frustrating and disappointing first half of the season, including two lopsided defeats at the hands of the hated Galaxy, the arrival of reinforcements in the form of Darren Huckerby, Scott Sealy, Arturo Alvarez, and Francisco Lima, gave us all hope that this final derby matchup would turn out differently. When Alvarez scored soon after the start of the match, our hopes were realized. The new great hope of the Quakes, Darren Huckerby, torched the left side of the L.A. defense and scored the second. When the Quakes gave up two goals and let the Galaxy back into the game, it seemed as if maybe nothing had changed, and we were reverting back to our losing ways. Instead, the Quakes pushed forward with all their might and willed their way to victory, as they had done so many times in the history of this franchise, with Ryan Cochrane coming up big and giving us an exhilirating victory over our arch-enemy. Not only that, but it kickstarted our season, began our unbeaten run, and sent the Galaxy into a tailspin which ultimately cost Lalas and Gullit their jobs, and doomed the “superclub” to yet another year without the playoffs. We partied, sang, and danced in the stands long after the whistle had been blown and the players had left the field.