WASHINGTON -- Though the fortunes of the San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United this season are perhaps headed in different directions, their circumstances this season have remarkable similarities.
The teams came together Sunday afternoon at RFK Stadium. Both have had issues with chemistry and cohesion, by-products of either a new roster, as is the case with the expansion Quakes, or an unsettling influx of new players, as with United.
Both have had trouble scoring goals, though United have righted the ship and are now ringing the twine with regularity. Both teams are confident and have worked hard to alter their results.
But in the end, United have more talent in most of the critical areas than the Quakes and therein lies the primary difference between the two clubs, which was evident United's 3-1 win against the Quakes.
"We're chugging along and it's a shame really that we don't have more points than we have. We've played well a lot and not gotten anything out of the game so it's tough to take. I think the quality in the end showed with Emilio scoring -- he's a good player -- and a wonder goal by Martinez," said San Jose coach Frank Yallop.
Emilio scored United's second goal off a deflection in the 88th minute to cap the scoring at 3-1. Gonzalo Martinez scored a brilliant goal in the 55th minute to put United ahead for good that was preceded by goals for each side moments apart five minutes earlier.
United's Clyde Simms scored from distance in the 50th minute on a shot that hit two San Jose defenders before slowly rolling into the net behind a helpless Joe Cannon. Just seconds later, United goalkeeper Zach Wells fumbled a cross from the right flank which John Cunliffe stretched out and poked just over the line ahead of Bryan Namoff's clearance from the goalmouth.
"Our general play and all of the things we talk about coaching-wise and being structured is good, but talent-wise I think we are a little short right now. We've got three forwards who aren't even healthy right now which doesn't help," said Yallop.
The on-field issues are correctable and the team has not been short on effort regardless of their often frustrating results.
"We are not playing a solid 90 minutes," said midfielder Ronnie O'Brien. "We are playing 50, 60 minutes and those other 30 minutes in games we are getting punished. We've got 30 minutes (a game) that we need to work on and keep our concentration and I think we will get some more results."
"It's just disappointing, especially when we are playing well, to get the right time to score and I think that's been our problem really. We don't look overly dangerous all the time when we are in front of goal," added Yallop.
The Quakes have scored only 10 goals on the season, six of which have come on the road, and have been shut out seven times. United went through a similar stretch, scoring only one goal during a four-game losing streak before their recent surge.
"We need to be a little bit sharper in the final third and support each other better when we do have the ball," said Quakes forward Ryan Johnson, who was the only constant threat to United the entire match.
"When you watch D.C., when they get the ball, they have three or four guys around the ball at all times," he continued. "With us, we get the ball to one area, or we switch the ball or we play the ball up to the forwards, there is only one guy there to support, maybe only one option sometimes. These defenders are tough, they are not going to let you hold onto the ball more than three seconds -- you definitely have to play quickly."
Two similarities that have never wavered for each team, however, are using excuses to justify their results, as easy as that could have been and questioning their efforts at any point in the season.
"I think if I knew that we could solve the problem straightaway," said O'Brien jokingly. "We're trying. Obviously there is a period of getting to know each other but we are not using the expansion tab as an excuse. We do feel we are a good enough team and we've been in every game. For the most part, we are not getting trounced on. Without two deflected goals today we've done all right.
"I don't think you can ever question the effort," he continued. "Whether we have the quality or not, that's another thing, a different debate, but you can never question the commitment of the players. We went down to Salt Lake with 10 men and gave it all we got and got a result. We came out today and for the most part emptied the tank but didn't get the result in the end."
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Quakes hope to build off win
Yallop encouraged despite struggles
Hope still alive
