Quakes Improve Playoff Hopes with Win in Houston

Sept. 5, 2010
EARTHQUAKES PAGE

SANTA CLARA, Calif.The San Jose Earthquakes did a lot of new things Sunday night in Houston as they beat the Houston Dynamo 2-1 at Robertson Stadium. They reached the nine win plateau for the first time since returning to San Jose in 2008, won for the first time ever in Houston, and had first-time goals from Geovanni and Khari Stephenson. San Jose moved to 32 points, which puts them in a tie with Seattle in the seventh position in the playoff race. Stephenson scored his first regular season goal of his MLS career in the 6th minute as he finished off a cross following a long run from Geovanni, who made his first start since joining San Jose. Geovanni burst down the right sideline leaving four Dynamo defenders behind and then picked out Stephenson in the area. Stephenson finished coolly to the right of a helpless Pat Onstad.Houston leveled just before halftime as Brad Davis headed in a Brian Mullan cross, beating Jon Busch to the far post. Geovanni found himself on the scoresheet again in the 64th minute as he scored the first goal of his MLS career, pouncing on a deflected ball inside the penalty area and beating Onstad low. The goal was set up by some nice combination play on the left wing, as Chris Wondolowski found Brandon McDonald down the line. McDonald played a low cross in to the feet of Cornell Glen, after Mike Chabala deflected it away, Geovanni found the back of the net with a powerful strike.San Jose held on for the 2-1 win, and face FC Dallas Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium in another critical match in the race for the playoffs.