San Jose Earthquakes

Flushed from the excitement of San Jose Earthquakes’ dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 victory over rivals Los Angeles Galaxy on May 23, forward Steven Lenhart summed up his side’s resolute approach by exclaiming, “Goonies never say die!”

It was an apt reference to the popular 1980s movie about a ragtag group of kids who continually defy the odds, and it would grow to define an entire season.

The Goonies moniker perfectly encapsulated the Earthquakes’ penchant for finding ways to snatch points from the jaws of defeat. The players have made it their own, with team captain Chris Wondolowski even wearing a shirt emblazoned with the motto after some games.

While 2012 has been a watershed season for comebacks, San Jose are hardly new to that game. Wondolowski, currently leading the league in scoring with 17 goals through 21 games, topped Major League Soccer with nine game-winning goals in 2010, tying Carlos Ruiz for the single-season league record.

Entering Saturday’s game against Chicago Fire, San Jose led the league with 26 goals scored from the 61st minute onward. Their 4-3-3 record after conceding first was also tops.

So when Fire winger Chris Rolfe caught ‘Quakes keeper Jon Busch off his line and sent his side ahead 1-0 in the 37th minute with a terrific looping effort from the edge of the penalty area, the 10,000-plus faithful fans assembled at Santa Clara University’s Buck Shaw Stadium had little reason to furrow their brows in worry.

Earthquakes manager Frank Yallop said he kept it pretty simple with his halftime dressing talk.

"I told them to keep going," Yallop said. "We were playing well, and I thought we did a great job of recognizing their dangerous players and stopping them on the counterattack. I kept telling our guys, if we kept pressing on offense—if we get good quality service in, we will score goals."

San Jose had seen several terrific chances go begging in the first half, as Fire keeper Sean Johnson produced what Yallop called the best performance he’d seen from a goalie in "a long, long time."

Johnson seemed particularly preoccupied with keeping San Jose midfielder Simon Dawkins off the score sheet during that first half, producing spectacular saves from the Englishman off (in following order), a right-footed curling volley, a point-blank sliding effort, a long-range drive and finally a left-footed volley at the far post.

Lenhart Helps Kick the 'Quakes into Gear

The Earthquakes came out rather flat to start the second half, but the 59th-minute introduction of Lenhart changed that listlessness in a hurry.

Coming on for ineffective midfielder Rafael Baca, Lenhart made his first appearance since July 3 at Portland, when he had succumbed to a concussion at Jeld-Wen field.

The residual effects had kept him out of training and games until the day before Saturday’s match, and the crowd on hand greeted their hero with a rousing reception as he ambled onto the field.

San Jose had not delved into "Goonies" comeback lore since a 5-3 victory over (again) the Galaxy on June 30, a game in which Lenhart had opened the scoring. It did not seem like a coincidence that the team's late-game heroics had stagnated while Lenhart recuperated.

The tall forward—whose distinctive blond mane of hair inspired Saturday’s "Lenhart Wig Night" promotion at Buck Shaw, where the first 2,500 fans received the wig—didn't look like he'd missed more than three weeks of play, immediately inserting himself into the fixture.

With vestigial imprints of his unmistakeable likeness watching him from around the stadium, Lenhart’s introduction sparked the Earthquakes into life. Combining with fellow forwards Alan Gordon and Chris Wondolowski, Lenhart provided an added physical threat in the penalty box that the ‘Quakes began taking advantage of with relish.

"When you see Gordon, Lenny and Wondo in the box, all you think is just, ‘Kick it in there,’ and one of them are gonna get to it," winger Shea Salinas said after the game. "That’s all I was thinking about; just get the ball in there and let them do the rest. Not really trying to pick anyone out."

Lenhart’s 70th-minute acrobatic effort from just inside 18 yards certainly added a wrinkle of individualistic bravado to the attack—one that had, quite simply, been sorely missing.

Despite San Jose’s best efforts to push for a winner—there were shouts for a handball in dangerous areas on at least three occasions, including twice in the final 20 minutes—Gordon was sent off for a second yellow card in what was initially set as five minutes of stoppage time for a two-footed lunge at Fire left-back Dan Gargan. Gargan went down in a heap from the crunching tackle, and Gordon received his marching orders.

But not before Yallop had his say. Visibly furious with the call, the manager heaved a Gatorade carrying case onto the field—an action that, after embattled referee Chris Penso had consulted with fourth official Alejandro Mariscal, resulted in Yallop being ejected from the game.

"I just don’t know…(Gordon’s) trying to poke the ball toward goal, and he gets to it first, and kind of misses the ball, but he’s not trying to injure the guy who’s playing it," Yallop said.

"He’s just trying to score, and I haven’t seen that again, but it’s just frustrating. I wouldn’t say there were three handballs, but there were three handballs…that we didn’t get. I think my frustration kind of got the better of me tonight, and, you know, I just wanted to see if Shea (Salinas) wanted a drink, and made sure he got some hydration tonight."

Down to 10 men, with seconds tick-tocking away into eventual nothingness, San Jose somehow, someway found their equalizer just seconds from time.

Wondolowski chested down Salinas’s lofted free kick, sending a cushioned pass bouncing to the edge of the penalty area, and right into the path of Lenhart, who caught the half-volley in perfect rhythm, unleashing a thunderous low drive into the left corner of the goal to make it 1-1.

His teammates, particularly captain Wondolowski, who had been seething with some of the decisions rendered in the final moments, mobbed their golden-haired savior in celebration. It was all they could do, after all, when presented with a moment of pure 'Goonies' lore.

And even given the immense quality of the goal, Lenhart’s celebration might have been even better.

Dashing over to the right corner of the field, the tall striker vaulted into the air, going parallel with the ground before turning his body just so to avoid a belly flop as he came thundering down onto the turf. Then he asked for, and received, one of the ceremonious wigs in his likeness, and with Salinas joining him in the idea, the two rushed to midfield, blond polyester manes flowing (sort of) behind them.

It would prove to be the final kick of the game.

Lenhart was a bit more subdued in the post-game locker room than he had been on May 23, but he still echoed the philosophy that has coursed through the Earthquakes’ 2012 season. "We never think we’re going to lose," he said. "We weren’t thinking that at all."

"We got a point that we really deserved tonight," Yallop said. "Other than goals, I thought it was one of our better performances (this season), to be honest. I thought we moved the ball well and created a ton of chances. If we keep playing like that, we're going to be really tough to handle."

Perhaps more important than the goal, which was San Jose’s 45th on the season, was Wondolowski’s assist—his fifth of the season—which made it 49 in that department for the Earthquakes in 2012.

For Johnson, it was yet another stupendous performance dampened somewhat by a fantastic volleyed finish. Against New York Red Bulls on July 18, the Fire keeper had been bested by a sublime left-footed volley from Thierry Henry that won the game 1-0.

That certainly didn’t take away anything from Johnson’s performance from the perspective of his opposite number. Speaking after the game, Busch echoed his ongoing belief once again that Johnson is “the future (US) national team keeper.”

Given the saves he produced on Saturday night for the Fire, and with men's national team No. 1 keeper Tim Howard edging into his 30s, it would be difficult to contradict Busch.

Salinas Provides a Performance That Would Make miCoach Proud

Just days after Adidas, the official equipment supplier of MLS, had introduced its groundbreaking miCoach technology, set to be introduced league-wide next season, which tracks the total running endeavor of each player on the field through a microchip planted into their compression shirt beneath the jersey, Shea Salinas put in the kind of game that would surely have qualified for a record had he been wearing a chip.

The winger, finally enjoying uninterrupted time on the field after a devastating tackle from New York Red Bulls enforcer Rafa Marquez on April 14 resulted in the 25-year-old breaking his clavicle, an injury that forced him to the sideline for 10 weeks, according to Yallop.

But against Chicago—and in particular when facing left-back Dan Gargan, the winger showed why, when he’s at his best, there are few who can rival him for endeavor in space.

Gargan endured a hapless 90 minutes of Salinas twisting him this way and that on the right flank.

"He’s back to his running best," Yallop said. "It took a little while—obviously he’s been out for a long time. Now, only three weeks or so into his comeback, I thought he looked great tonight."

Salinas was frequently used as an outlet during the game’s opening moments, providing an interesting alternative to the more tucked-in play of “left-winger” Simon Dawkins, who is exceptional when he’s embodying the No. 10 he wears.

Tucking in just behind a striker (or two) is Dawkins' preferred positioning on the field, rather than getting out wide. But Salinas feels that change of pace ignites San Jose's attack rather than impairs it.

"Dawkins is great on the ball, he’s got an unbelievable vision, and he brings the ball inside and rarely loses it," Salinas said. "He counters what Marvin (Chavez) and I do—we like running at guys, and he likes tucking in a bit more."

With Chavez, the usual starter at left wing, out with a slight hamstring pull, Dawkins and Salinas made for a bit of an unorthodox, but wildly effective, pairing.

Dawkins would slot into a wider position on the left flank while defending, but when the ‘Quakes launched forward in attack, he quickly showcased his ability to navigate dribbling in tight spaces—which, as Salinas so rightly mentioned, is a specialty of sorts for the 24-year-old, currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for a second consecutive season.

With Chicago’s three-man central midfield—particularly the deeper-lying pairing of captain Logan Pause and Pavel Pardo—helping choke out San Jose’s own central midfield duo of Sam Cronin and Rafael Baca, Dawkins and Salinas’s industry took on added importance.

Dawkins is adept when granted space to run at defenders, but Salinas seems tailor-made for that part of play. When he is able to push the ball onto his favored right foot and dart into pockets of green on the wing, there are few who can keep up with him, as Gargan found out all too well, again and again.

But Salinas is no one-trick pony. So versatile is he that Yallop pushed him to right-back when he brought on Sam Garza for Jed Zayner late in the game as he pushed for an equalizer. Zayner, signed on June 20, was making his Earthquakes league debut on the evening.

Salinas won his first duel at right-back against the goal-scorer Chris Rolfe, and soon thereafter provided the aforementioned pass that set up the ‘Quakes’ equalizer.

By the final minutes, Salinas was visibly tiring, as he had every right to be. It was a shift that wasn’t lost on anybody, not least his manager.

"(Salinas) did a nice job at both positions, and you know, you can’t say enough for his work rate, and his endeavor, and his desire to do well for the team,” Yallop said. “He’s a great teammate for the guys, and a great kid to coach. He did well tonight."

"I like running at anybody," Salinas said. "I got the best of Gargan a few times, and Frank (Yallop) just told me to keep going at him. I just did the best I could, and tried to get by Gargan and into the box."

Two Full Debuts During the Match

Apart from Jed Zayner making his first appearance for the Earthquakes at right-back—the 27-year-old acquitted himself quite well in defense, and showed a real desire to get forward on several occasions—Chicago Fire introduced their newest Designated Player (DP), Dutch forward Sherjill MacDonald, acquired just this past week from Belgian club Germinal Beerschot.

The Amsterdam native came on in the 64th minute for Dominic Oduro, and immediately showed the physical ability Fire manager Frank Klopas had raved about after his signing was made official.

MacDonald promises to be a key member of the Fire’s push toward the MLS playoffs, a feat that is very much within their reach after 21 games played.

Chicago owns a 9-7-5 record on the season, good enough for fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings (the top five teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs).

Despite the dramatic nature of Saturday night’s finish, Klopas will certainly be happy with a point at what is one of the toughest places to play in the league. MacDonald was a muted presence at Buck Shaw, but one thinks he’ll soon unleash the kind of quality that saw him nab 15 goals during his nearly four years with Beerschot.

A Much-Needed Respite for Tired Legs

The Earthquakes have endured a torrid stretch of games since mid-June, and for Chris Wondolowski and Justin Morrow, both starters against Chicago Fire, playing in Wednesday’s All-Star game, combined with the taxing flights to and from Philadelphia, must have only compounded their fatigue.

Tired legs certainly rang true as a theme on Saturday night, with Wondolowski professing after the final whistle, to Morrow no less, that he was “so dead.”

Luckily, a break in the schedule will allow the Earthquakes to regain some of their strength. With their next league game not until Aug. 11, at home against Seattle Sounders, it will be a chance for rest.

San Jose does play a friendly on Tuesday, July 31, against English Premiership side Swansea City, but it should be an occasion where starters will likley be rested in favor of less-utilized players.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes in this article came from interviews collected on-site after Saturday's match.

San Jose Earthquakes central midfielder Sam Cronin rushed toward central defender Jason Hernandez, who was standing with the ball near midfield, and pointed with his finger to where he wanted Hernandez to play it—in front of him, just so, so Cronin could then dictate play.

Hernandez acquiesced, and just like that, Cronin was in possession at center circle.

The 25-year-old midfielder doesn't usually hold onto the ball for long—his style of play is a staple of the modern-paced midfield game, where one and two touches reign, coupled with uncanny vision and movement.

Cronin pairs with Rafael Baca in the 'Quakes' midfield, which uses two central midfielders in a 4-4-2 formation. Baca usually plays a bit higher than Cronin, and to the left, roaming about the attacking third as Cronin holds his position a bit deeper.

That makes his defensive acumen—tracking runs from opposing players, being sturdy in tackles—of utmost importance.

Against the Los Angeles Galaxy in June 30's fabled California Clasico, at a Stanford Stadium filled to the brim (some 50,391 strong, with a heavy preponderance of Earthquakes supporters), Cronin was tasked with stymieing the prodigious attacking threats of Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane.

Though the Galaxy managed to put three goals past 'Quakes' keeper Jon Busch that night, all came in the first half.

And considering the Earthquakes nabbed four of their own, with Cronin providing the equalizer at 3-3 with a superb sliding poach that poked past keeper Josh Saunders, it was a superb reaction from the side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PIQD4lyR7A

Cronin's goal came after a rare foray forward (he's taken just 16 shots this season, compared to 75 from 'Quakes' forward and MLS leading-scorer Chris Wondolowski), but afterwards the midfielder said that both he and Baca looked to make runs into dangerous areas in order to alleviate defensive pressure, which would otherwise overload on the wings and forward positions, areas the Earthquakes frequently look to attack through.

Width is a calling card of manager Frank Yallop's, who frequently takes time during his post-game news conferences to inform the assembled group of reporters that he believes his side plays at its best when it switches play quickly from side to side.

Cronin shares that vision, and lets you know it to boot.

Often electing to play searching, lofted balls this way and that about the field—in a 5-0 waxing of second-placed Real Salt Lake on July 14, Cronin played four of them through 60 minutes, sweeping his right foot through the ball with a technique Real Madrid midfielder, and fellow connoisseur of the long ball, Xabi Alonso has mastered—it's a terrific way to get things moving, and fast.

The result often sees the ball land inches from its target, its accuracy so complete that the control is nearly instantaneous.

For example, when Cronin played one of those early cross-field balls for speedy winger Marvin Chavez in the 59th minute of the Salt Lake game, the Honduran was able to control immediately before turning toward goal, which is when he is at his most effective.

Crucial Contribution This Season

Reasons abound for why San Jose have vaulted to first place in the Western Conference standings this season, with a very real chance at grabbing the Supporter's Shield, awarded to the team with the best record in the entire league.

Currently four points ahead of Real Salt Lake in the West, San Jose hold a five-point advantage over New York Red Bulls, the East leader. New York hold a game in hand, however.

Wondolowski's 17 goals, managed in just 20 league games—and he's gone the past two games (!) without scoring—obviously rise to the fore.

But it's the more nuanced reasons, which tend to fly beneath the surface, that often lead to titles. And for all of Wondolowski's exploits, many of them have been facilitated by the Earthquakes' often-brilliant wing play.

Wing play which often begins, of course, through Cronin or Baca's distribution.

Wondolowski certainly appreciates their work rate. Speaking after that Salt Lake encounter, the forward offered a glowing appraisal of their body of work.

"Baca and Cronin have been the players of the game these past four games, dating back to LA (at Stanford Stadium)," Wondolowski said. "They cover so much ground, and it makes other players’ jobs so much easier, especially mine. I appreciate what they do out there."

Yallop was in total agreement with his star striker.

"I hate to single people out, but I thought Rafael Baca and Sam Cronin were great in the center of our midfield. They bossed it, they made sure it was busy, difficult to play against them, and they were clean on the ball."

A Winning Mentality

Traded to San Jose from Toronto FC midway through the 2010 season, Cronin's first season with the Earthquakes was something almost out of a dream.

San Jose had just had a team reintroduced in 2008—the previous franchise had packed up and moved to Houston, where they became the Dynamo ahead of the 2006 season—and in that 2010 season, they embarked upon a scintillating run that saw them defeat the heavily-favored New York Red Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.

2011 was far more cumbersome, as San Jose slumped to one of their poorer seasons in franchise history, finishing seventh in the Western Conference standings and missing out on the playoffs.

When asked to describe himself by The Shin Guardian in a March, 2011 interview, Cronin called himself "a defensive midfielder" with a top-notch work-rate.

Those two qualities hardly tell his entire story, however. Cronin knows what works, and has since college, when he helped lead Wake Forest to the 2007 Division 1 national championship.

His contributions in Winston-Salem did not go unnoticed—in 2008 he was one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, given by the Missouri Athletic Club to the best D1 player, and he won that year's Lowe's Senior Class Award—but as so many collegiate stars soon discover upon hitting the professional ranks in this country, renown quickly outruns them.

Cronin is not the most recognizable Earthquake—run a poll of a general Bay Area leadership, and it's somewhat unlikely that many would know him.

It's true that the Earthquakes' success, as it has in so many years (they won the 2001 and 2003 MLS titles), has flown under the radar in the Bay Area, as it has nationwide.

San Jose leads the league in goals scored (44), and has just passed 40 in terms of assists as well.

While Cronin's own personal statistics don't pop out at you—almost four months passed between assists before he turned provider for Gordon's goal against Salt Lake (he has three on the year, to go with that one goal)—as is so often the case with influential central midfielders, particularly ones with considerable defensive duties, statistics never tell the entire story.

A Fiery On-Field Character, Pensive Off It

Cronin has been involved in a slew of on-field incidents since that Galaxy game at Stanford, when David Beckham kicked a ball at him as he lay down by the 'Quakes' goal in the dying moments.

Whatever Beckham's intentions were, they were deemed sinister by the MLS, who slapped their star attraction with a one-match ban.

Speaking after that match, Cronin, as he is so effective at doing, demurred from spewing any incendiary quotes.

That much was apparent after the Salt Lake game as well, when Kyle Beckerman had drawn a red card for going in very late on Cronin in the 57th minute.

Cronin would say afterwards that Beckerman "raked his shin."

Beckerman's rush of blood might have been a response to Cronin's previous challenge on his RSL teammate Javier Morales. Then, as Morales lay sprawled out on the field, Cronin waited a beat before kicking the ball out into touch.

The Salt Lake defensive midfielder waited a moment himself, before finally going through on Cronin just as he sent the ball skipping over the touchline.

One reporter after that match tried to get the story of the encounter out of Cronin, but the midfielder continued to play it off as something that just happens during the heat of battle out on the field.

Demanding, almost to the point of fiery, during play—a wonderful juxtaposition from his cool and collected playing style (Cronin resembles Wondolowski in that both are frequently seen exhorting their teammates on the field)—the Atlanta native comes across as much quieter off it.

Always willing to talk to reporters, though, Cronin employs a thoughtful approach to interviews, offering concise answers that are perfectly measured and planned.

Having already made 19 appearances in MLS for San Jose this season, starting 18 of those encounters (the Earthquakes have played a total of 20 league games), Cronin will need to continue to be at his all-purpose best.

Expect that number to continue to surge as the season moves into its final months. If the Earthquakes are to legitimize their status as genuine contenders, they'll certainly need it.

It wasn’t exactly a let-off, although something of that register might have been expected—perhaps even understood—after such a thrilling match four days earlier had seen San Jose Earthquakes dismantle Real Salt Lake to the tune of five goals to nil.

But San Jose could consider themselves fortunate to escape with a 2-1 win over FC Dallas at Buck Shaw Stadium on Wednesday night in a match that saw the visitors granted a penalty just seconds from the final whistle.

“If they would have equalized in the end with that penalty kick, you would have had to say that they deserved at least a draw, to be honest,” Earthquakes manager Frank Yallop told reporters after the game. “You can’t use the word ‘lucky’, but that game could have gone either way."

“I keep saying, ‘Every game in this league is difficult’. They’re bottom of our conference (eighth out of nine teams), and I think they’re a really good team. They’re very dangerous, and very hard to handle."

“They’ve been a bit unlucky in a lot of the games they’ve had, but there’s not a big gulf between the top and the bottom in the standings. They’ve played some great stuff, and they were certainly tough to face tonight.”

Earthquakes midfielder Rafael Baca cleared twice off his own goal line (once in each half, with the first saving flourish coming just one minute after kickoff), both times from Dallas forward/winger sensation Brek Shea. The goal-mouth scramble was an indicator of the deluge to which San Jose was subjected for large portions of the match.

Dallas had eight corner kicks in the first half (11 once the final whistle had gone), and forced San Jose keeper Jon Busch into several lunging, finger-tipped saves, but the Earthquakes were resilience personified as they held their lines steadfastly throughout, save for one free kick in the 89th minute, where Dallas defender Hernan Pertuz was granted a free header.

The central defender, who'd cleared a goal of his own off the line when these two teams had faced just 11 days previously, coaxed his shot past Busch to make it 2-1.

The Earthquakes Make the Most of Their Chances

San Jose had just two shots on target in the first half, but they made them both count, with Marvin Chavez (12’) and Alan Gordon (45’) scoring superb goals to take the team’s total league count this season to an MLS-leading tally of 43.

Shea Salinas, one of several Earthquakes players firing back into fitness after lengthy injury spells, picked out Chavez with a weighted cross-field ball that split two Dallas defenders. Chavez proceeded to catch the ball perfectly on the half-volley and fired from the left edge of the penalty area past keeper Kevin Hartman and into the right corner of goal.

“(Jair) Benitez dropped off me so I found a little space, and I just hit it across,” Salinas said. “Marvin happened to be there, and what a great volley he had. It was a great finish by him.”

There are certainly worse ways to mark a first goal of the season. Chavez’s celebration wasn’t too shabby, either, as he raced to the sideline and leapt into compatriot Victor Bernardez’s arms.

“(Bernardez) picked (Chavez) up like a little rag doll, because Chavez doesn’t weigh much,” Yallop said. “The spirit of those two guys is great, and I think they’re part of the camaraderie we have in the dressing room and on the field. We’re all pleased with each other when we do well, and I think it shows.”

San Jose pressed their advantage immediately after the goal, but Dallas steadily drew back into the game, and kept peppering the Earthquakes’ penalty area only to be undone by a decided lack of quality in their finishing.

“They had a lot of balls in our box, and I thought our defenders did very well dealing with them,” Busch said. “There were a lot of bodies, a lot of people battling, and our boys were willing to stick their heads into dangerous places and deal with the threat. It got a little nerve-racking, but we got away with it.”

After Dallas had looked like it would equalize, in the blink of an eye the Earthquakes had struck again.

This time it was midfielder Sam Cronin who turned provider, picking out Alan Gordon at the far post with a sumptuous first-time chipped cross. Gordon rose highest and headed across Hartman to make it 2-0 San Jose on the cusp of halftime.

The goal gave Gordon two goals in two games and eight on the season to date. (Yallop pointed out afterwards that if not for a debatable call in Colorado, Gordon would actually have nine to his name.)

“It was an amazing cross from Sammy,” Gordon said. “I called for it—he saw me raise my hand, and he put it right on my head and gave me a chance, and I got right up and tried to put it on target, and I was fortunate enough for it to go in.”

The start against Dallas made it four starts in a row for Gordon, dating back to the July 3 match against Portland Timbers. “I’ve been working hard, coming back from my injury,” he said, referring to the debilitating tears in an abdominal muscle and both hip adductors which had required season-ending surgery last August. “I continue to do that. I’m not changing what I’ve been doing and it seems to be working."

"When you get minutes, you’re fitter. When you’re not getting the minutes, sometimes you’re sucking wind, and it affects your play. The more fit I get, it allows me to do more things on the field. In that sense I am feeling strong, and I hope it continues."

"His hold-up play has really been what’s keeping us in the game," Chris Wondolowski said. "When we clear the ball, he possesses it, and we get two or three passes so we can get our guys going on the outside, and get our outside backs overlapping, and that’s a great thing to have."

San Jose Nearly Undone by a Dallas Comeback

Labeled “The Goonies” for the uncanny ability they've shown this season to find ways to win at the tail end of games (they’ve scored five game-winning goals after the 82nd minute, and have compiled a stunning 13 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches), San Jose were almost ladled a dose of their own medicine Wednesday as Dallas embarked upon a furious comeback in the game’s final, brow-furrowing (if you were a 'Quakes fan) moments.

After Pertuz had headed home from Jackson’s bending free kick to make it 2-1, San Jose substitute Simon Dawkins was judged to have clipped down Loyd as the right-back darted into the Earthquakes' penalty area.

Just moments from the final whistle (four minutes of stoppage time had been granted), Dallas had an opportunity to snatch a point from what had looked like inescapable defeat just minutes earlier.

But all that might have been irrelevant.

San Jose could have made it three goals to none and put the game out discussion in the 60th minute, when Brek Shea was called for a penalty.

Replays clearly showed the US international handling the ball after Bernardez’s scuffed flick from a corner kick sprung up against the winger's left arm.

Wondolowski, scorer of 17 goals in 18 games heading into Wednesday's match, stepped up to take the spot-kick.

He would have brought his prodigious total to 18—one closer to Roy Lassiter’s MLS single-season record of 27, a feat accomplished in the inaugural 1996 season—after smashing his effort past a wrong-guessing Hartman and into the top right corner of goal, but Stott called it back after deeming a player to have rushed prematurely into the area.

"I’m not too sure what rule was encroaching on the play, and there was no doubt that (Wondolowski) smashed it in," Yallop said. "I don’t think it made any difference to what ‘Wondo’ was doing, or what the goalie was doing. I’m not sure what they saw."

Wondolowski’s second effort was just as fierce but not as well-placed, and Hartman saved comfortably to his left, keeping his side’s deficit at a more manageable two-goal clip.

"Obviously, retaking the penalty is never easy, and it nearly came back to haunt us a little bit," Yallop said.

"That (decision) almost cost us two points," Gordon said. "(Stott) must have seen something pretty blatant, or else he wouldn’t have called it. I hope replays show something significant."

Fast-forward to Benitez's penalty in stoppage time.

Dawkins was absolutely beside himself with Stott’s decision; a marked contrast to the near-apathy Shea had shown after his own fault.

After defending so valiantly for so much of the game, San Jose had suddenly found themselves within a well-taken 12-yard strike from dropping two points.

But Benitez’s penalty rocketed over Busch’s goal, to the uproarious delight of the crowd on hand.

Dawkins rushed over to Stott, still fuming—imagine what he'd have been like had Benitez been more accurate—and began to shout at the referee.

His Earthquakes teammates quickly joined in on the fray, pointing skywards as if a little praise was in order for divine intervention on their behalves.

Now at 43 points from 21 games played (a record of 13-4-4), San Jose head to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on Sunday in their final game before the MLS All-Star break.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes in this article came from interviews collected on site at the San Jose Earthquakes-FC Dallas match on July 18.

Meeting reporters in front of a makeshift backdrop at halfcourt of Santa Clara University's Leavey Center just minutes after watching his San Jose Earthquakes mount a thrilling 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake--its closest competitors for the Western Conference lead--manager Frank Yallop made it perfectly clear that he expects his side to continue pressing for goals throughout the entirety of a match.

"I'm not going to tell our guys to hold back and not score as many goals as they can," Yallop told that small band of collected media. "We didn’t sit back, we didn't try to pad and see the game out, we went at it and we tried to play in the right manner. We had some great finishes tonight."

Yallop had every reason to beam about the game he'd just seen. Real Salt Lake had come to the Bay Area just one point behind San Jose in the Western standings and brimming with confidence after waxing Portland Timbers 3-0 the previous weekend.

Considering San Jose had fought tooth and nail for a 0-0 draw in their own road encounter against FC Dallas, the final game in a debilitating run of six games in 18 days, it would have seemed Salt Lake had momentum on their side.

But thanks to a superb performance from his 'Quakes, Yallop could rest a bit easier knowing he'd hit the pillow that night holding a four-point advantage over his nearest rivals.

Taking a minute to run through each of his five goal scorers against Salt Lake (well, given as indomitable forward Chris Wondolowski accounted for three of those goals, only three players needed mentioning) Yallop praised the quality he'd witnessed that night.

He noted Wondolowski's hat-trick, then Alan Gordon's opportunistic strike, which had pushed the 'Quakes' lead to 2-0 in the 63rd minute.

Then, after a pause, he remembered Simon Dawkins, the midfielder who had grabbed San Jose's fourth goal of the night when he had smashed home from point-blank range after Wondolowski had done well to deftly touch the ball into the goal-mouth area.

Dawkins's strike was quickly outshone by Wondolowski, who completed his hat-trick less than a minute later, but that fourth goal bodes very well for the Earthquakes going forward.

Twenty weeks into the season, San Jose boast the best record in all of MLS. They are four points clear of East-leaders Sporting Kansas City, albeit with a game in hand, but, given their form for the better part of two months now, they don't look ready to give up that advantage.

San Jose's players are in fine form, and the ranks received a crucial boost from Dawkins's return from a shoulder injury, which had kept him out for two-and-a-half weeks--or the better part of that brutal stretch of games in the past month.

Against Salt Lake, Dawkins came on for winger Marvin Chavez in the 69th minute, slotting into a more advanced central midfield role.

He helped bolster San Jose's dominance in that area of the pitch, which had risen exponentially after influential Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman had been sent off in the 57th minute for a rash challenge on Sam Cronin.

Under contract until 2013 with English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur, the 24-year-old has now spent the past two seasons on loan with the Earthquakes.

He's been a key contributor to San Jose's cause, playing in 42 games during his tenure while providing the sort of dynamic option in midfield that can turn a game on its head.

Despite having last featured for the Earthquakes on June 23 against that same Salt Lake side, Dawkins said he did not lose any fitness during his convalescence period.

Coming on against Salt Lake on Saturday with the game well in hand at 2-0, the midfielder was able to enjoy a bit more freedom to roam, pushing forward while Cronin and Rafael Baca manned holding roles.

"The guys did really well to build a lead," Dawkins said after the game. "It was an easy game for me to come into, so I was pretty happy.

"I’m more of a tucked in type of player, and that allowed us to keep possession and get a couple more goals, so that was good."

While San Jose still managed to exploit Salt Lake on the wings—Shea Salinas provided the assist for Wondolowski's second goal on the night after blazing past Abdoulie Mansally in the 72nd minute—Dawkins's arrival onto the pitch, coupled with that of Khari Stephenson minutes later, saw the 'Quakes change their mode of attack.

Whereas they'd wanted to use width for most of the match, the fifth and final goal on the night came from a deft pass in central midfield by Stephenson for Wondolowski.

While his statistical contribution ended with the goal, Dawkins contributed mostly in the way he held the ball and pushed forward in attack.

Blessed with pace and a preternatural ability to ward off defenders even amidst the most blinding bouts of pressure, Dawkins provides something extra when he is included in the midfield unit.

While he might cringe at the comparison, Dawkins has a style of play—not to mention his rugged approach to potential challenges—that hearkens to mind Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby, who has earned the nickname "L'Araignee" (The Spider) among his French national team colleagues for his uncanny ability to keep possession.

His three goals for San Jose this season have been an added boon, and, as the Earthquakes head into Wednesday night's home match against FC Dallas, Dawkins's ability to launch forward could be a vital asset.

Wondolowski told the San Jose Mercury News after Saturday's game that "the midfield won the game for us."

The star striker, who has 17 goals in 18 league games this season, also said that from his perspective, Cronin and Baca had been the best players for the 'Quakes since June 30's thrilling 4-3 win over LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium.

"They cover so much ground, and it makes other players’ jobs so much easier, especially mine," Wondolowski said. "I appreciate what they do out there."

Now with Dawkins back in that flourishing midfield fold, San Jose have yet one more option to dominate that realm. Expect the first-place 'Quakes to take full advantage against Dallas on Wednesday night.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes used in this article were recorded at the Earthquakes-Salt Lake game on Saturday, July 14.

In a match with crucial implications for the MLS Western Conference standings, the San Jose Earthquakes made an emphatic statement on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium, where Chris Wondolowski's hat trick paced a 5-0 drubbing of Real Salt Lake.

The encompassing win sees the Earthquakes (12-4-4) go four points clear of the 2009 MLS Cup winners (11-6-3) atop the West. Salt Lake remain in second place with 36 points on the season.

“I felt we were in charge of the game from the opening whistle,” Earthquakes manager Frank Yallop said after the match. “I really didn’t feel any doubt that we weren’t going to win this game. I felt we bossed everything; we took charge of everything in the match. I felt really good about it.”

Boss the game they did, particularly after the 57th minute, when Salt Lake were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Kyle Beckerman, a frequent inclusion in the U.S. men’s national team set up for several years now, chopped down Earthquakes midfielder Sam Cronin, who had just touched the ball out into play after seeing Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales go down with an apparent injury.

A scrum ensued, with Earthquakes players rushing to the aid of their teammate, who was beset upon by a number of Salt Lake players.

Pushing and shoving resulted in a medley of yellow cards—at least three when all was said and done, excluding one for Victor Bernardez that was later rescinded—but the ‘Quakes’ response sent a message to their opponents. After huddling up as a team for the second time that night, they embarked upon a thoroughly dominant stretch in the match.

“It was definitely a turning point,” Cronin said afterwards. “Playing with 10 guys is always tough, so it was a fortunate turn of events for us.”

Nursing a 1-0 lead at that point, San Jose surged toward the finish, putting four more goals past a foundering Salt Lake defense that grew increasingly ragged as the match wore on.

MLS leading goalscorer Wondolowski, who’d opened his account as early as the 18th minute, notched his 15th, 16th and 17th goals of the season. It was his fourth game with multiple goals in 2012, his first since a May 2, 5-3 thriller of a win against DC United.

“We had some great finishes tonight,” Yallop said. “I was really pleased with “Wondo’s” hat trick, and Alan Gordon scoring, it’s obviously a joy. Simon (Dawkins) scored as well, and he’s a great player.”

Wondolowski at His Opportunistic Best

While the Earthquakes had the better chances in the first half, Real Salt Lake had the lion’s share of the possession, and were bossing the game about in midfield.

Wondolowski very nearly opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute, when his half-volley was parried away by keeper Nick Rimando.

As is often the case, the dynamic forward wasn’t seeing the most time on the ball—he began dropping deep into midfield to do so—but he was looking in the Salt Lake final third.

When center-back Jamison Olave’s hacked clearance fell to the Earthquakes' No. 8, Wondolowski chested down before firing his left-footed effort just wide of Rimando’s left-hand post.

A goal was coming, and in the 18th minute Wondolowski finally got it. Marvin Chavez’s outswinging corner pinballed around the penalty area, with Justin Morrow heading back across goal to Gordon, who deviated the ball back to the arriving Wondolowski, who headed home at the far post.

The Earthquakes briefly took the momentum, but Salt Lake’s three-man central midfield, which Cronin described as “narrow,” was clamping down quickly and denying the Earthquakes central midfield duo of Cronin and Rafael Baca time to dictate play.

Alan Gordon, who once again took Steven Lenhart's place in the starting lineup (Lenhart is still recovering from a concussion), served as an outlet for the Earthquakes, who were unable to build through midfield and thus forced to play long balls up toward Gordon.

“They do a very good job of clogging the middle, and they’re a good team, but ‘Rafa’ and I have to do a better job of switching play against a team that plays so narrow,” Cronin said. “It was definitely better in the second half though.”

A Hat Trick for the MLS Leading Scorer

Wondolowski certainly helped with that effort, but before he etched his name once more on the goal sheet, Alan Gordon made it 2-0 Earthquakes in the 63rd minute.

Chavez once again was behind the goal’s creation, sending in a corner to center-back Victor Bernardez, whose header caromed off the far post and right into the path of Gordon, who could not miss from close range.

If Salt Lake had entertained any notions of a possible comeback before, even while playing with 10 men, their spirits were well and truly broken after Gordon’s goal.

San Jose quickly began looking for a third—Yallop made sure to point out that he makes sure his team never deviates from that scoring endeavor—and after very nearly getting it in the 68th minute, when Gordon very nearly picked out Wondolowski with a curling cross in behind the defense, just four minutes later they found the mark.

Winger Shea Salinas did well to ghost past a hapless Kenny Mansally on the right flank, pushing toward the end line before centering toward the near post, where Wondolowski arrived to nudge home past Rimando.

Dawkins added his name to the goal sheet in just his first game back after some two-and-a-half weeks out due to injury. Off a Salinas corner this time, Wondolowski got enough of a touch to nudge the ball across goal, where Dawkins met it and smashed into the back of the net to make it 4-0.

“I felt good—it’s only been two-and-a-half weeks since I’ve been out, so I didn’t feel I’d lost any fitness,” Dawkins said. “The guys did really well to build a lead. It was an easy game for me to come into, so I was pretty happy.”

San Jose’s talismanic forward finally made it five, adding that 17th goal of the season (in just 18 games played, mind you) when he was played in behind a sliding Mansally and Olave by substitute Khari Stephenson in the 80th minute. Wondolowski took a touch after collecting and fired low across Rimando’s right to cap his historic night.

Substituted seconds later, Wondo received a rousing reception from the sellout crowd of 10,744 on hand.

The Earthquakes were in total control, dictating play and maintaining possession for minutes on end in the final portions of the match before the final whistle went.

Baca and Cronin Again Terrific in Midfield

Wondolowski called the central pairing "the team’s best players since the Los Angeles match on June 30," and after watching Cronin and Baca dictate play with aplomb against Salt Lake—particularly in the second half—it was hard to disagree with him.

“Those two cover so much ground, and it makes other players’ jobs so much easier, especially mine,” Wondolowski said. “I appreciate what they do out there.”

"I hate to single people out, but I thought Rafael Baca and Sam Cronin were great in the center of our midfield," Yallop said. "They bossed it, they made sure it was busy. It’s very difficult to play against Salt Lake’s midfield, but they were clean on the ball."

Yallop said the team had talked before the match against FC Dallas last Saturday about the importance of maintaining clean sheets, and after tonight’s victory, the team has two in its past two games. (The Dallas match ended in a goalless draw.)

"I thought we did a great job against Dallas and again tonight of not conceding chances," Yallop said. “I can’t remember a chance that Salt Lake had where they should have scored. That’s what I look at. Dallas had a couple, but I don’t remember Jon Busch scrambling and being forced to make a save tonight."

Fabian Espindola, who was one of the players carded in that Beckerman-induced scrum, very nearly caught Busch out at his near post in the 16th minute, but aside from one half-chance with a near-post cross, Salt Lake mounted very little in the attacking third, even before going down to 10 men.

After enduring a brutal run of six games in 18 days from the end of June to early July, the Earthquakes had a week off before Saturday’s match. Yallop said the extra time allowed the team to get a “proper practice in,” as opposed to simply nursing niggling injuries and resting players with so little time between fixtures.

With a Wednesday night match against FC Dallas on the agenda, the Earthquakes again will have little time for repose.

Despite the magnitude of the win over their nearest contenders for the Western Conference crown, both Yallop and Wondolowski were adamant about the importance of not getting ahead of the schedule.

"They’re not an arrogant group," Yallop said. “They’re a confident group with very big self-belief. They feed off each other. The group’s together, and they’re buoyant and very pleased in the place they’re at, but they’re certainly not overconfident.

"We want to win the next game, and on and on. We don’t think we’ve made the playoffs yet, because we haven’t. We still feel that we’ve got a certain barrier we need to get over. That’s what drives our guys on."

"To be first place after Week 20 is pretty good, but there’s still a lot of season left," Wondolowski said. "We’ve just got to keep hitting our stride."

Forward Steven Lenhart was kept out for the second consecutive match due to concussion symptoms. It wasn’t clear whether he would be able to return on Wednesday.

All quotes used in this article were obtained at the game through personal interviews.

Two days after being named MLS Player of the Month for the second time this season—a recognition of his three goals in as many league games during June, each of which ended up being the decisive goal in an eventual win—San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski very nearly showed the predatory instinct that has made him one of the premier players in Major League Soccer.

In fact, were it not for two timely interventions by FC Dallas defender Hernán Pertúz and keeper Kevin Hartman, both of whom cleared Wondolowski efforts off the goal line, the Earthquakes could well have escaped a brutal stretch of games, which has seen them play six times in 18 days, with a 2-0 victory.

But Dallas made interventions when it needed to, and the game, which failed to fire for most of the 90 minutes, ended in a 0-0 draw. A positive result from the Earthquakes perspective, especially when viewed in light of their 2-1 defeat to Portland Timbers on Tuesday.

The draw took the Earthquakes' record this season to 11-4-4.

Heat was a factor—it was 80 degrees in Frisco, Tex. by the time kickoff rolled around, and within 10 minutes Earthquakes keeper Jon Busch, recovered from an eye injury in that unforgettable  L.A. Galaxy match one week before to take his place in goal, showed the effects of the sweltering clime.

A patch of sweat, normally reserved for outfield players after a half or so of play, developed on Busch's goalkeeper jersey in those opening minutes. While the Earthquakes are accustomed to adverse conditions playing in San Jose, where summer temperatures frequently rise into the 80s or 90s, there is something to be said about the oppressive nature of Texas's own weather.

That heat lingers.

Brek Shea, one of the anointed golden boys in U.S. Soccer's next generation of stars (he trained with English Premier League side Arsenal this past winter), was the danger man in attack early on for FC Dallas.

His teammates were looking to find him, often with his back to goal, and he gave Earthquakes defender Hector Bernardez fits with a series of feinted turns that erased the sturdy Honduran far too easily.

The Earthquakes were dominating possession, however, and by the time 30 minutes rolled around had a 58-42 percent advantage in that department. Outside of a few Shea opportunities, they could be fairly pleased with their performance.

In the 36th minute, they finally launched on the offensive.

Wondolowski was played in behind the Dallas defense on the left edge of the penalty area, and after nearly being pulled back by Pertúz, stayed upright and succeeded in chipping Hartman, who could only flail helplessly as Wondolowski's goal-bound shot edged toward the back of the net.

But Pertúz provided the saving grace, rushing past Wondolowski and clearing the delicate shot off the line to keep the game scoreless.

The Earthquakes weren't done threatening, however, and just before the end of the first half winger Marvin Chavez dummied Carlos Rodriguez on the right sideline, charging toward the endline where he cut back for Steven Beitashour.

The right-back's side-footed effort skied over Hartman's goal, however, and with Alan Gordon at the near post and Wondolowski arriving at the other end, Chavez might have been expected to pick out a better pass for what could have been his ninth assist of the season.

The second half was a bit of a yawner, with chances coming fewer and farther between (neither team succeeded in lodging a shot on goal in the first half).

Earthquakes midfielder and captain Ramiro Corrales was sent off with just over 10 minutes to go for a clumsy challenge on Rodriguez, clipping the defender as he looked to cut past him infield.

Rodriguez made the most of the cynical clip, howling and shaking his finger as he rolled around, but it was a sloppy challenge from a man on a yellow card. In a road match, with his team tiring around him, Corrales should be expected to have a clearer head.

It almost didn't matter that the Earthquakes were reduced to 10 men, however. In the 84th minute, substitute Khari Stephenson played fellow sub Shea Salinas in on the right flank.

With Wondolowski matching the speedy winger, playing in his second game after returning from a fractured ankle, stride for stride, Salinas showed some of his rust by taking just one touch too many and allowing Hartman to deflect his effort harmlessly away.

As he had been for most of the match, which had seen opportunities come at a premium, Wondolowski was frustrated.

Just seconds later, however, Wondolowski almost had himself another winner in a season when he's saved his side on countless occasions.

Beating a Dallas offside trap, the forward latched on to Sam Cronin's through ball and, occupying the position Salinas had just been in on the right, opted to go for goal, unleashing a venomous low drive that dribbled through Hartman's clutches and through his legs.

The keeper had slowed down the shot just enough, though, to successfully pounce upon it before it could filter into the open goal.

That would prove to be the Earthquakes' last real chance in the match, and while a 0-0 draw against a foundering Dallas side wouldn't normally be cause for celebration, taking a point on the road in a game where tired legs reigned supreme (how could they not, given how far the Quakes had come—literally and figuratively—in 18 days) wasn't the worst possible result.

Far from it.

Mired in a brutal midseason stretch that will see them play six games in 18 days (they're currently four games through), the San Jose Earthquakes lost 2-1 to the Portland Timbers on Tuesday night at Jeldwen Field.

The loss dropped the Earthquakes' season record to 11-3-4, although they remain first in the Western Conference standings with 36 points.

Much had been made about the Earthquakes' prodigious attack (35 goals (including 17 on the road) and 37 assists this season), deemed to be far superior to that of the Timbers', who have crawled out of the gate to start the MLS season.

But with the first portions of Tuesday night's match as a reference, you wouldn't have known that the Earthquakes were at top of the Western Conference. The Timbers dominated them in both possession and scoring opportunities.

Aside from some pretty link-up play in midfield, and one searching long ball that passed just out of the reach of league-leading goalscorer Chris Wondolowski (14 goals), the Earthquakes found themselves largely on the back foot.

The Timbers, bolstered by their rapturous, incessant fan support, hit the post and fired wide of both posts during the early going. Their troubles in the attacking realm aside, the Timbers have been superb at home—they've only won four times this season, and guess where they all came?

San Jose mustered its best chance of the first half by way of a neat through ball played through for Rafael Baca, whose left-footed lunging effort was deflected past the onrushing Alan Gordon before setting up perfectly for an acrobatic half-volley from right-back Shea Salinas. After recently returning from a broken collarbone suffered against New York Red Bulls, Salinas' attempt was also deflected for a corner.

It seemed cruel, though, that Portland broke the scoreless deadlock on the ensuing counterattack.

Within seconds, Portland had mustered a goal, with Danny Mwanga latching on to a low cross from the right and slotting home past Earthquakes keeper David Bingham.

After the goal, San Jose turned on the attack, using the right-flank duo of Salinas and Steven Beitashour to great effect.

The final ball was not coming, however, much to the chagrin of Wondolowski, who was growing visibly frustrated with the lack of quality play towards the end of the half.

The Quakes continued their assault on the Timbers' goal early in the second half, but once again the Timbers showcased their newly-discovered ruthlessness in front of the goal, this time exemplified by Jack Jewsbury. He scored his first goal of the season during a havoc-ridden scrum in front of Bingham.

This seemed to be in prime territory for the Quakes. With more than a half hour to go and a history of coming back from seemingly endless deficits, manager Frank Yallop called upon Marvin Chavez and Steven Lenhart to boost the attack.

Within minutes, he'd gotten a return on his decision, with Chavez firing a low shot toward goal that Gordon was able to turn in with a neat flick to bring the score to 2-1.

Gordon has made a habit out of scoring in the final 15 minutes of games since joining the Earthquakes a year ago, but this time his goal came just before that time slot, in the 74th minute.

San Jose pressed on for an equalizer, but the rigors of this current stretch of games—coupled with the emotional drain of Saturday's thrilling 4-3 victory over LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium—looked to finally take their toll.

Lenhart was at his combative and creative best up front, but the likes of Wondolowski, Gordon and Chavez simply lacked the legs to get anything going in the way of an equalizing goal.

The loss, seen in the light of the Timbers' brilliant run at home, is not a horrible one. The Earthquakes retain their spot atop the Western Conference standings.

But with a taxing trip to Texas and a tricky tie against FC Dallas on the schedule this Saturday, it will be imperative for Yallop's side to pick themselves up and find the legs to get a positive result.

To commemorate Military Appreciation Night on Saturday at a sweltering Stanford Stadium filled to the brim with boisterous supporters, San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski went a bit overboard.

Entering into the game with a league-best 13 goals (two ahead of New York Red Bulls' Kenny Cooper, who has made two more appearances this season), Wondolowski sent his side ahead in the 61st minute with a sublime back-heeled flick off a Marvin Chavez corner.

It marked the third goal in three league games for the man affectionately known as "Wondo," who spent nearly a month on duty with the United States men's national team during this latest round of friendlies and World Cup qualifying.

His latest exploit, which would prove the last goal the Earthquakes would need on the night, also saw him enjoy one of the more patriotic celebrations seen in recent memory, just days from the Fourth of July.

After watching his shot trickle past a helpless Josh Saunders into the back of the net, Wondolowski charged toward the group of 15 or so military personnel collected behind the goal and began high-fiving and hugging a number of them fervently.

Then, Wondolowski took a few steps backwards and began trotting toward center-circle, pounding his chest and kissing the Earthquakes crest adorning the left pectoral of his jersey, pointing toward the 1906 Ultras, San Jose's most famous bunch of fans.

You only needed to see the emotion etched upon Wondo's face to see what it meant to him.

"It was amazing," Wondolowski said of the goal and celebration after the game. "It was a great ball by Marvin Chavez. He whipped it in, Ramiro Corrales made a near-post run and flicked it, and I was able to lose my marker and flick it in.

"With it being Armed Services Night, and what they do for our country, and with July 4 coming up, it meant a lot to score and celebrate with them. I was just trying to show my gratitude to them. They're amazing people.

"You have 50,000 fans out there, you have our supporters who are there every game, they're always behind us. That's another driving force and that keeps us going. It's pretty special."

This marked the third time in 17 games this season San Jose has gone on to win after trailing at halftime. (They were down 3-2 to the Galaxy at the half Saturday.) The other 18 teams in MLS have only combined to achieve that same feat six times.

"We win a lot playing from behind," Wondolowski said. "We don't get down on each other, we fight until the end. At halftime, even being down a goal, we knew we were going to come back and get some chances.

"It's just a great statement game. I'm sure it was exciting for the fans—4-3, a lot of good goals, gives us cardiac arrest but we'll take it. It's three points. We'll take that every day."

It's the sort of never-say-die attitude that cannot help but attract a cultural reference. For the Quakes, their moniker was bestowed after a May 23 come-from-behind victory against that same Galaxy side.

"Goonies never say die!" striker Steven Lenhart had exulted after the Earthquakes had roared back from a 2-0 deficit at the Home Depot Center that night of the 23rd, striking in the 76th, 82nd and 94th minutes to take all three points. (The Earthquakes have scored a league-leading 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of league games this season.)

Wondolowski's winner on Saturday night came far earlier than many of his other winners this year, but he made it 21 goals for the Quakes in the final 30 minutes of games this season.

The 29-year-old striker, who donned a "Goonies Never Say Die" T-shirt in the post-match locker room (the two 'O's in 'Goonies' were cleverly construed as soccer balls), has helped the Earthquakes to victory now in the three league matches he's played since coming back from his latest tour with the US men's national team.

Wondolowski only made his full international debut at 28, but he has become an integral component of the national team set up, first with Bob Bradley, and now Jurgen Klinsmann.

With the Quakes three games into a brutal stretch of play that will see them play six games in 18 days' time, Wondolowski will need to be at his best.

"You can always count on (Wondolowski) to get in the right spots and you know where he is," striker Alan Gordon, who came on as a 68th minute substitute against the Galaxy, said.

Gordon, who has scored all six of his goals for the Earthquakes after the 75th minute since joining the club in July 2011, didn't need to produce any heroics on Saturday night. Gordon did, however, force a good save from Saunders when he fired a low left-footed shot across goal.

A roller coaster of a match

It was Lenhart who had opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Pouncing upon a bundled save from Saunders after Chavez had sent a left-footed curling effort in toward goal, the man with the iconic shock of dirty-blond hair was at his opportunistic best.

"Lenhart just did a great job rebounding for that goal," right-back Steven Beitashour said. "That's what he does when the ball rebounds; he's great at scoring goals like that."

"We all like each other," Lenhart said. "I think we're building on something pretty cool, and we're more than just soccer players. We're buddies, and we like to battle hard for 90 minutes."

The Earthquakes bossed the minutes following Lenhart's goal, but LA slowly began to get back into the game, building momentum through their midfield fulcrum of David Beckham.

Allowed the time to take two or three touches on the ball—a luxury he cannot be afforded—Beckham began picking out teammates with pin-point, searching long balls.

But it was a sumptuous, curling free kick—vintage Beckham—from 25 yards that brought Los Angeles level. Keeper Jon Busch could do nothing but stand rooted to his goal line as he watched the drive nestle into the upper left corner of the net.

Within 10 minutes of that 31st minute effort, the Galaxy had struck twice more—both coming from Quakes central defender Jason Hernandez's mistakes.

Hernandez bundled a Hector Jimenez cross into the back of the net to send the Galaxy into the lead, but it was his next mistake that proved the most costly, and avoidable.

Just 20 feet away from his own goal, Hernandez attempted to play a pass back to Busch. Jimenez once again found himself in the right place, pouncing upon the mistake and cutting back for Landon Donovan, who could do little else but score from such close range.

Hernandez was visibly distraught, slapping his hands to his head in disgust as replays showed his mistake for all to see.

But his teammates—central defense partner Victor Bernardez in particular—would have none of it.

Bernardez, whom head coach Frank Yallop credited with being "colossal" on the night, brought San Jose back to within one goal with a terrific right-footed volley off Chavez's corner.

"Victor (Bernardez's) goal to end the first half was the biggest play of the game, without question," said midfielder Sam Cronin. "To give us that momentum going into the locker room was huge. We knew if we came out and pushed the game, we'd have a successful second half."

Push they did, helped on by Cronin.

In the 47th minute, the San Jose No. 4 latched onto a searching, bounding ball played by Beitashour just outside the midfield circle before poking past Saunders to bring the score to 3-3.

"'Beta' played a ball down the line, Wondo made a little check in and Lenhart attracts so much attention, he played a little dummy and it went through," Cronin said, describing the build-up to the goal.

"We were pretty disappointed with the way we played in the first half," Cronin continued. "We felt we weren't challenging ourselves enough, or getting the ball on the ground and playing it forward. In the second half, we just wanted to make a conscious effort to keep the ball on the ground. I think we did a better job of that."

"I think we come back from every game, but scripts change," Yallop said. "We'd like to score first, which we did, but to come back against a team of this quality is very good. We've got another game against them, but I can't speak highly enough of the players through that door. They keep trying, and even if we hadn't come up with a victory tonight, I think we still could've walked away with our heads held high."

The Quakes' ascendancy came in marked contrast to the spectacular disintegration of Beckham, who could have been sent off in the game's final moments when he kicked a ball at a San Jose player who was lying injured just by the goal.

Upset with what he deemed excessive time wasting, and remembering that Wondolowski had failed to play the ball out in the first half when a Galaxy player had lain injured, it appeared that Beckham had had enough, and wanted the Earthquakes to know it.

A fight nearly broke out then, and Beckham had to be restrained from going after the Earthquakes players once the final whistle had gone. Chavez bore the brunt of the Englishman's furor.

As the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid player moved about the field, looking to instigate some sort of rumble, chants of "Beat LA! Beat LA!" began to rise about the stadium. The 1906 Ultras section had begun the chant, but thanks to Beckham, it didn't take long for what seemed to be the entire stadium to join in on the fun.

It was a less than stellar ending to what had been a terrific encounter in the 50th league meeting between the two clubs, but it did prove the latest example that this is a rivalry not to be taken lightly.

Matthew Snyder is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

Frank Yallop’s San Jose Earthquakes aren’t going to be making the MLS playoffs this year,  but they did establish some sort of pride to what has been a sorry season.

The Quakes, through the boot of Chris Wondolowski, earned a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Wondolowski, a local product from Chico State University, recorded his 13^th goal of the season in the eighth minute. Goalkeeper David Bingham, making his first-ever Major League Soccer start, hoofed a long pass to Wondolowski, who took down the service with an excellent first touch and finished past New England netminder Bobby Shuttleworth.

In the 55^th minute, Benny Feilhaber recorded his fourth goal of the season off chaos in the Revs’ attacking third. A free kick from Chris Tierney found Ryan Guy, forcing Bingham to make a save. Milton Caraglio’s rebound hit the crossbar but eventually found Feilhaber.

San Jose would secure the game-winner eight minutes from stoppage time.

Simon Dawkins and Sam Cronin teamed up to deliver a cross to Wondolowski for his 14^th goal of the season, which ties him for the league lead with Thierry Henry of the New York Red Bulls.

With the result, San Jose improve to 7-11-14 on the year (35 points), while New England drop to 5-15-12 (27 points). The Earthquakes will next face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, Oct. 15, while New England host the Columbus Crew.

Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.