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Shea It Ain’t So… More Injuries for the Earthquakes

Every San Jose Earthquakes’ fan was nervous and excited for this Saturday’s game against the New York Red Bulls. The game was billed as “The Fight of the 2nd Place Teams” or “The War for the Golden Boot”. It was to be a fun match to see if New York’s Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper could get past the nimble Justin “JMo” Morrow and “Big Vic” Bernardez and how New York’s backline could deal with the likes of Chris Wondolowski.

Coming into the game, the main fear for the fans was knowing that without Lenny (Steven Lenhart) and Gordo (Alan Gordon) available due to hamstring strains, Khari Stephenson and Wondo would have to hold down the fort up at the top. Which the stealthy Golden Boot has made known that it isn’t his favorite place to hang out all in the open and exposed. Little did the fans know that missing their big target forwards wouldn’t be where their concerns should be directed.

The game started out with Kenny Cooper scoring a goal on a gaffe by Big Vic but luckily for the Quakes Rafael Baca responded with the equalizer. However, New York’s Dax McCarty decided to add a goal assisted by Dane Richards and Cooper. A few minutes later, Shea Salinas decided to take down Dane Richards from behind in the 25th minute which earned the speedy Quakesman a nice yellow card. I don’t know if this was the reason for what played out in the 44th minute or if Mexican national Rafa Marquez even needs to have a reason for being a thug. Check out the video here.

Marquez, who was suspended the first two matches of the season for throwing a ball at Landon Donovan’s back last year, which started a fight where he got “poked” by a phantom player and then fell down holding his head, just started seeing the pitch again at the end of March. And now if the Major League Soccer Disciplinary committee is fair, he won’t be seeing the pitch for at least another three games. I mean it is one thing to hug someone in the box, which isn’t legal in MLS, but it’s another thing to wrestle a player down to the ground, throwing yourself on him and then kicking him on purpose in the collarbone to the point that it breaks. I could almost understand if Salinas was tall like Lenny or Gordo and known for scoring headers off corner kicks, but this is a guy who is known for his speed and shooting with his feet not head.

Now if losing Shea isn’t bad enough, 10 seconds after Salinas went down Big Vic followed suit. The Honduran grabbed at his leg and was in obvious pain. He couldn’t even get up, having to be stretchered off the pitch with his leg being strapped in. It was later explained that it was a sprained medial collateral ligament and we won’t know fully the extent of the injury until MRI can be done. With the backline General out of the game, it opened the way for Jason Hernandez to come in who had been the starting center back since the Quakes came back in 2008.

So, all seemed okay with the Quakes holding off the Bulls and not allowing them to score. Then the 80th minute came with our backline being plagued yet again by injury. Ramiro Corrales was the next to go down and had to limp off being replaced by Ike Opara. Again, Quakes fans around the world were even more nervous not knowing if they would see “I Like Ike” who was stellar in a U-23 friendly against Mexico or the “Oh para” from the Olympic Qualifying tournament who had mega defensive meltdowns which allowed for various goals from Canada and El Salvador ultimately leading to the US not qualify for the Olympics.

As fans were trying to breathe through all the hurt players and their substitutes, the 85th minute saw Marvin Chavez writhing in pain on the pitch. As twitter was lightening up with fans speaking words of doom, the camera panned to Frank Yallop who looked more nervous with the daunting idea of having to perhaps play a man down due to all substitutes already having been used. Luckily for all, the fast right winger was able to get up and come back into the game after a minute.

So, the Quakes ended up coming away with a 2 – 2 tie against the Red Bulls; however, it seems to be a very costly point. I can’t see Salinas being able to play again before the month long break starts at the end of May. I’m guessing that Bernardez will miss a few weeks depending on how bad his left knee is. Ramiro and Chavez, I’m hoping will be fine for the Real Salt Lake match. And then we just have to pray that Lenny or Gordo become quickly fit to help draw away defenders for Wondo to score.

Good thing the Earthquakes have depth on bench because it looks like they will be needing every inch of that depth to continue on this historic start to their MLS season.

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