SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- On a night when the San Jose Earthquakes were intent on using their depth, their reserves delivered, defeating Club Deportivo FAS of El Salvador 2-1 Tuesday at Buck Shaw Stadium, Mikel Arce and Jovan Kirovski scored in the first half, while Alejandro de la Cruz countered in the second half for the visitors.
With a mammoth game against Chivas USA on tap for this Saturday, San Jose manager Frank Yallop opted to rest all of his starters. FAS were by no means at full strength either. The visitors were missing no fewer than five players due to Salvadoran national team duty, including captain Alfredo Pacheco, while three other players were left at home due to injury.
Both sides displayed some decent approach work early on, but precision in the final third was lacking. FAS midfielder Josue Flores won a free kick 30 yards from goal in the fifth minute, but his subsequent attempt at goal was easily scooped up by San Jose goalkeeper Mike Graczyk.
FAS began to assume greater control, and nearly went on top in the 19th minute. A cross from the left wing by de la Cruz was deflected by Graczyk in the box, but Quakes defender Jamil Roberts, with some help from Ryan Cochrane, cleared the danger.
Amid some confusion, the Quakes went ahead against the run of play in the 25th minute. Davide Somma picked out Arce in the box, who backheeled the ball past FAS 'keeper Jose Gonzalez. The play was initially judged to have been offside, but after consulting with his assistant, referee Edvin Jurisevic allowed the goal, and San Jose was ahead 1-0.
FAS tried to up the tempo, and the visitors appealed for a penalty in the 33rd minute when de la Cruz went down in the box, but Jurisevic was having none of it and waved play on.
San Jose responded five minutes later with Somma springing Arce on a clear breakaway, but the Spaniard could only hit a tame shot that was saved by Gonzalez.
The home side didn't have to wait much longer to add to their tally. Shea Salinas broke free down the right wing in the 42nd minute, and his inch-perfect cross was nodded home by Kirovski to make the score 2-0.
Yallop brought on Michael Ghebru in place of Matt Hatzke to start the second half, and the German made his presence felt in the 49th minute, winning a penalty after a mistimed challenge from a FAS defender. Ghebru spurned the resulting spot kick however, smashing his attempt off the crossbar.
Emotions boiled over shortly thereafter when de la Cruz was laid low by a late challenge from Kirovski. A scuffle involving most of the players from both teams broke out, but order was soon restored with Kirovski earning a yellow card.
The incident served to crank the intensity up a notch, and FAS nearly pulled a goal back in the 55th minute, but Graczyk was on hand to deny Oswaldo Mendoza from point-blank range.
The hour mark saw a flurry of substitutions with Michael Gustavson replacing Graczyk in the San Jose goal, while FAS brought on Hector Avalos, Carlos Aparicio and Jose Solis. The fresh legs saw FAS control possession, with most of the play going through the feisty de la Cruz, while San Jose were looking dangerous on the break.
Yet it was the visitors who finally made a breakthrough in the 77th minute. Aparicio's free kick from the left wing found de la Cruz wide open in the box, and his glancing header left Gustavson with no chance.
Somma nearly made the game safe for the home side in the 83rd minute, but his blast from 14 yards hit the base of the post. Ghebru corralled the rebound, but was unable to get a shot off and the danger was averted.
The same fate befell Somma just four minutes later. Arce slotted home the rebound, but this time, the assistant referee's offside call stood, keeping the score 2-1.
de la Cruz had one final chance in the 88th minute, skipping up the endline on the left wing, but his centering feed was cleared by Roberts.
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