SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For nearly all of this expansion season, San Jose Earthquakes manager Frank Yallop has worn the calm demeanor of a man who firmly believes that things will turn around for his team, despite some compelling evidence to the contrary. But in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 tie with Colorado, Yallop did his best to channel Howard Beale from the movie "Network." He was mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
The focus of Yallop's ire was referee Hilario Grajeda, who in the eyes of the Quakes manager failed to spot Conor Casey's push on San Jose defender Jason Hernandez, allowing the Colorado forward to nod home a 70th-minute equalizer. That the goal came just eight minutes after the Quakes' Ryan Johnson had put San Jose ahead 1-0 with a header of his own made it even tougher to take, resulting in just the second ejection of his career.
"I was thrown out with Canada once," said Yallop. "I don't get angry very often, but I struggled with that [call]. I just looked at it again on the tape, and from the angle I was at, [Casey] pushed [Hernandez] in the back."
Yallop's outburst was also the culmination of a season's worth of offensive frustration. Despite Johnson's goal, the Quakes are still on pace to break Toronto's dubious 2007 record for fewest goals in a season, and Saturday's result saw another solid defensive effort wasted. For Yallop, the game was just the latest instance where the he felt his team deserved better.
"Again, it's a draw at home in a game we really needed to try and win, and we were in a position to do that," said Yallop.
Saturday's match was San Jose's first home game of any kind in almost a month, and it was their first match at Buck Shaw Stadium in nearly two. Yet it was Colorado who adopted the more aggressive mindset in the first half, as San Jose struggled to cope with the Rapids' sharp possession game. In fact, it wasn't until Casey squandered a clear breakaway in the 12th minute that the Quakes woke up.
"We were the second-best team out there in the first half today," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "If we come out like that we don't have a chance. I think the reason it's so disappointing that we came out like that is I think we've all been looking forward to this homestand, and this game as the one to kind of help us turn the corner. I'm down. I don't know what to say."
But the Quakes did have their share of opportunities. In particular was a Johnson effort in the 37th minute that went wide, and then another chance in first-half stoppage time where Ivan Guerrero failed to latch onto Johnson's cross.
"Going in up 1-0 at halftime after not playing well would have made a big difference," said Yallop. "We're just stuttering around the goal, and that's the frustrating part about it."
Yet the Quakes season-long scoring malaise was forgotten when Johnson buried Ramiro Corrales' free kick in the 62nd minute with a thumping header. And San Jose nearly doubled their advantage five minutes later off another set piece, but Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul did well to parry away Ronnie O'Brien's free kick. That set the stage for Casey's heroics, and Yallop's histrionics.
With the transfer window set to open on Tuesday, it would also appear to usher in a new era this season. It's expected that both midfielder Francisco Lima and forward Darren Huckerby will be signed in the next few days, with more changes possibly on the horizon. The hope is that these new additions will not only bolster the team's attack, but also make them more resilient.
"We need to look at us doing more in a game, and not let one call dictate the whole game," said Cannon.
In the meantime, the frustrating season for the Quakes continues.
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