Hoops' Rocha searches for consistency

FRISCO, Texas -- In the first 12 games of his MLS career, FC Dallas midfielder Andre Rocha had six assists. But that pace has slowed considerably as the 23-year-old Brazilian has now gone six matches without an assist. His last one came in a 1-0 win against Chicago on June 15.

In that period, the Hoops have changed coaches and have also gone from playing a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2. But Rocha is quick to say that the new formation is actually to his benefit.

"I feel better in this system," Rocha said. "In the 3-5-2, my responsibility was to go forward more and then get back (on defense). I would expend more energy and couldn't get the most out of my skills. Now, Schellas (Hyndman) is asking me to go forward but to come back only to the midline because I have a guy behind me. Now I feel like I have more energy and stamina to be able to stay in the attack and stay offensive."

Rocha also feels that he benefits from having a solid defender behind him on the right flank.

"I have a player like Drew (Moor) playing behind me, a player that I have a lot of confidence in," he said. "That gives me that assurance that I can stay on that side with someone behind me defending and also that I can make those passes. The understanding and communication that we have, I feel very comfortable with because we can make overlapping runs and can cover for each other."

Rocha played 64 minutes of Sunday's 2-0 win at Toronto FC before FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman pulled him for rookie midfielder Bruno Guarda, who made his league debut.

"I think he's not having great form right now," Hyndman said of Rocha. "I'm asking him to do certain things, he's trying, but we're not getting the best out of him. We're hoping that in this next 7-8 days of training that we can help him. He is very good with the ball but not really good off the ball, so the game is a little bit faster than he wants it to be.

"He likes to come into the middle third, get touches, his crosses are not consistent and a lot of them get blocked. A lot of his shots get blocked and he takes too long on his release," Hyndman continued. "We need to make some improvements, so this week, I think we'll be able to analyze some of the things on video and maybe a light bulb will come on."

Rocha has played and started in 18 of FCD's first 19 games this season. The only match he missed was on June 1 at Colorado, suspended after being ejected from the previous match with Houston. He is somewhat at a loss when asked to explain why his assist total has been stuck on six for the last six weeks.

"The opportunities are coming but sometimes, it just goes like that," he said. "Right now, what I'm trying to do is get myself a goal in this league. I like the position that I'm in, especially the offensive part. Having that responsibility is something I feel comfortable in even though it's only been a couple of things."

Hyndman would also like to see Rocha develop more consistency on corner and free kicks.

"If you can take those corner and free kicks to his play, you have the same word, inconsistent," he said. "We need to get more out of him and I think he's capable of giving more. Right now, what we're looking for is a little more production from our flank play."

Rocha is well aware of the high expectations that Hyndman has for him.

"I think he's a very smart coach," he said. "I also think highly of him. I respect that he thinks highly of me and that's why for me, every practice and every game is to give maximum effort that I can. I have expectations of myself even higher than what Schellas has."

After training on Monday, Rocha stayed on the training field for at least 30 extra minutes alongside forward Kenny Cooper, who is tied for the league lead in goals with 13, as well as rookies Josh Lambo and Brek Shea, normally among the last to leave practice.

He called his extra time working on his finishing as something that he needs to do in order to become a better player. "Any extra work that I can put in out here or in the gym, that's what I know that I need to be doing," Rocha said.


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Davis: Defense making difference

Every team is bound to struggle occasionally over a lengthy MLS season. It's a long nine months, and the mean times are out there, lurking. Believe it.

One particular trio of high-profile sides has recently negotiated some tough times -- and it's instructive to see how these three high are coping with matters.

The Los Angeles Galaxy, the Chicago Fire and the two-time league champion Houston Dynamo all entered the hot summer balanced precariously, their campaigns on a teeter, easily able to go either way.

The results are playing out in wildly disparate fashion. Houston has taken off like a Tomahawk missile. Chicago is hanging on -- but just. And the Galaxy are desperate to arrest their spiral before playoff positioning begins to suffer appreciably.

Furthermore, there's no trick in pinpointing the essential difference between these sides: defense.

When things begin going sideways, a club with reasonable back-line stability and proper defensive shields in the midfield give themselves ample opportunity to hang in there, to survive the wilderness, so to speak, until they gain their bearings and find a way out of the thick woods.

This weekend was all that in microcosm for the three spotlight teams:

Houston held off a big road effort from Columbus, as Dominic Kinnear's Dynamo won their fourth consecutive match and improved their mark to 5-1-4 over the last 10 in all competitions.

Chicago hung tough for a 1-0 win at home against Chivas USA. And Ruud Gullit's team from L.A. will search anew for answers that will bring the victories back to Victoria Street in Carson.

How is the bunch from south Texas doing so? With fantastic defense, the kind that set records last year.

Bobby Boswell, who has rallied back to 2006 form, and Wade Barrett, who never seems to fall from form, have been the cornerstones of Houston's recent, more miserly ways. Plus, don't overlook the contributions of Geoff Cameron, whose versatility has been a little-talked about asset around Robertson Stadium.

Cameron, a rookie third-round draft pick, has lined up as a forward and midfielder and, lately, a center back alongside Boswell. Kinnear has needed Cameron there to cope with Eddie Robinson's injury-troubled summer and Patrick Ianni's absence for the Olympics.

The numbers say it all for Houston: Even without Robinson, a 2007 Defender of the Year finalist, the Dynamo have allowed just one goal in its last five MLS matches. Kinnear's defending champions have allowed four to squeeze past in the last 10 matches overall.

As for Chicago: generally speaking, clubs that can turn over just one goal at home shouldn't begin pondering routes for postseason victory parades. It's no real surprise that Denis Hamlett's side can't dent the opposition net any more than that at the moment. Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been struggling, and he wasn't even available Saturday, suspended for the night due to yellow card accumulation.

Chad Barrett took his team-leading five goals across the border to Canada, traded last week to Toronto for the rights to Brian McBride, who won't arrive at Toyota Park for at least two weeks.

And yet, Chicago mapped a path to victory, riding Patrick Nyarko's well-taken first-half strike (the debut goal for Chicago's first-round draft pick). With that, Hamlett's club won for only the second time in eight MLS matches. Again, the Fire are hardly on the fast track to MLS glory at the moment. But the Chicago side is doing just enough to hang around and maintain decent playoff positioning. How?

Bakary Soumare and Wilman Conde are one of the league's two best central defense pairings at the moment (along with Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave at RSL). Gonzalo Segares continues to have an outstanding season at left back and Brandon Prideaux continues to dutifully lock down the right side.

Plus, Jon Busch's back-stopping has been unwavering. Add it all up and it's clear that Hamlett's team has lots of mending ahead in matters of attack, but needs only to maintain the clockwork defensive order. That would be enough to safely ensure at least one postseason contest in Bridgeview.

The one marquee side unable to spin out of the funk at the moment -- and this is no coincidence -- happens to have one of the league's most troubled defenses.

Rudd Gullit's increasingly troubled side has not won a match since June 14, a period that covers seven MLS contests. The Galaxy have allowed 19 goals in that time (2.7 per contest). That's hardly a number that will see the victories come tumbling in.

It's that central pairing along the back line that continues to be a problem spot, along with Chris Klein -- a converted midfielder -- generating some issues with his natural inclination to roam forward.

Goalkeeper Steve Cronin shares some responsibility, too, but Gullit said all along that the first-year starter would require some patience. So, that's puts the onus on the back line and the defensive midfield worker bees ahead it.

But Gullit can't get the mix the way he needs it. And it's not for lack of trying and experimenting.

He wanted to believe that Eduardo Dominguez was the answer, as the experienced Argentinean signed on last week as, essentially, a replacement for Abel Xavier. But Dominguez was back on the bench after one start, the confidence-damaging 4-0 loss to Dallas last week.

This week, it was back to Sean Franklin and Greg Vanney in the middle. Their work was spotty, and the defending through midfield wasn't particularly effective as Landon Donovan and Peter Vagenas lined up centrally, with David Beckham and Ely Allen on the outside.

Bottom line, the Galaxy scored two on the road, which will often be enough to scoop up points. But San Jose put three past Cronin, and the Home Depot Center tenants are left to ponder the same question that has dogged them all year: can Gullit et al cobble together enough defense to support that livewire attack?

We all love the flash, dash and panache of a showy offense. But for riding out the hills and valleys of the long summer, nothing beats a reliable defense.

TACTICAL CORNER

Toronto FC manager John Carver made an interesting choice for Sunday's match at BMO. MLS rules permit teams to name 18 players per match, 11 starters and seven on the bench. But Carver named just five potential subs. "And there's a reason for that," he said after Sunday's 2-0 setback, the team's first loss at Fortress BMO this year. "If people don't deserve to be on the bench, because had a [reserve] game through the week, and there wasn't enough for me to put some of these guys on the bench. So they didn't go on the bench. Why give them false hope? They've got to prove to me that they are good enough to go on the bench, and even to play."

Carver has two players (Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne) currently at the Olympics, plus injuries that are keeping Todd Dunnivant and Danny Dichio out of consideration for now.

The midfield balance looked just about right at RFK, where D.C. United crafted a 2-0 win without influential, injured playmaker Marcelo Gallardo.

Instead, it was Fred along the right who provided the big attacking push from midfield. Meanwhile, newcomer Joe Vide sat in with Clyde Simms in a side-by-side pairing that has been seldom seen this year at RFK. Both players are most comfortable in holding roles, so Fred had the latitude to get forward liberally. Meanwhile, Ivan Guerrero, another recent United addition, buzzed about on the left side energetically.

Gullit once again lined up two forwards in front of Landon Donovan, who manned an attacking midfield role for at least one more match.

Donovan did score, but the Galaxy aren't creating the same number of chances as in April and May, when L.A. often overwhelmed opponents with offensive initiative. L.A. seems to get more from Donovan in the second forward role.

But this also must be said: David Beckham looks a bit heavy-legged, and you have to wonder if the summer heat and travel are taking a toll? His crossing and ability to get into the right spots seems a bit sluggish.

This month should bring a bit of respite, with two matches at The Home Depot Center and no team-related travel until an Aug. 30 trip to New England.


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Howard the difference as Rapids fall

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- The Colorado Rapids fell 2-1 to Everton in an international friendly Sunday night, as a Conor Casey goal just after halftime was sandwiched by an early goal from Everton's Mikel Arteta and a goal just before the end of the game by Leon Osman.

Everton scored on their first shot of the game. Arteta received the ball at the top of the center circle and, taking advantage of an open man on the left wing, was able to feint and keep defender Facundo Erpen unsure of his intentions. This gave Arteta enough time and space for a shot from the top of the box that beat a diving Preston Burpo.

The Rapids had a nice chance in the 10th minute. Terry Cooke charged up the right wing and played a pass forward to Omar Cummings, whose cross went long of the goal but ended up falling nicely to Christian Gomez at the far side of the box. Philip Neville, however, recovered quickly to ensure Gomez could not do more than trap the ball before it was cleared out of danger.

But for an amazing save from Everton 'keeper and U.S. international Tim Howard, the Rapids would have pulled even in the 15th minute. Christian Gomez, freed at midfield by a nice give and go with Pablo Mastroeni, found Casey with a little space in the box. With his back to goal, Casey spun and shot, but his effort was blocked by Everton defender Joleon Lescott out to Cooke. Cooke's subsequent cross went right to the head of Casey, and his hard header forced a quick one-handed reaction save from Howard, saving the clean sheet and the lead.

The Rapids were relying more on flank play and long passes through to their forwards, while Everton's offensive strategy was more focused on creating short passes and personnel mismatches which opened up shots and the occasional cross into the box. One such cross came in the 27th minute from Dan Gosling, aiming for the head of Ayegbeni Yakubu, who looked to be consistently fighting a physical battle with the Rapids defenders. His header, however, skied high over the bar.

The Rapids wasted a golden chance in the 28th minute. Colin Clark was able to outrun Neville to the end line and sent a low cross to Casey at the penalty spot. Casey, with his back to the goal, shielded well but his short pass aimed at Gomez was well of the mark. Mastroeni was able to run onto it before anyone else, but his shot from the top of the box went well over the goal.

The Rapids seemed to take more of the initiative as the game neared halftime, but their many offensive forays and quality buildups were not translating into many shots. Gomez had one excellent chance in stoppage time, taking a cross from Ugo Ihemelu and hitting a nice shot from inside the penalty area that Howard had to dive to again make a one-handed save.

The second half began with wholesale changes for the Rapids, with Herculez Gomez, Nick LaBrocca and Bouna Coundoul replacing Cummings, Mehdi Ballouchy and Burpo, respectively. Everton replaced midfielder Jack Rodwell with defender Joseph Yobo and defender Leighton Baines with Nuno Valente.

The Rapids came out on the attack and evened the score in the 49th minute. Cooke sent a long cross from 40 yards out aimed at Casey. Yobo was looked well placed to intercept the cross, but it instead deflected off of him to Casey, who wasted no time in unleashing a hard shot. Howard was able to dive and get a hand to the ball, but it was not enough to prevent it from going into the back of the net.

Everton responded with some attacking flair of their own in the 55th minute. Steven Pienaar went on a nice dribbling run to the end line before pulling the ball back and laying a nice pass to Osman at the penalty spot. Osman's effort, however, was easily saved by a diving Coundoul.

Herculez Gomez took a wicked shot in the 58th minute from 30 yards that looked headed for goal. But Howard was able to get up and punch the ball over the bar.

Everton nearly pulled away again in the 65th minute, as Peinaar intercepted a pass across the back from Jose Burciaga Jr. to Erpen. Yakubu was unable to control Peinaar's pass, however, and Coundoul was able to rush up to make the save.

Erpen nearly scored one of his own in the 73rd minute. A long Burciaga corner kick found him alone on the far side of the penalty box. His powerful header, however, went just outside of the back post.

The end stages of the game saw furious charges from both sides, with few chances to show for it. Each defense stiffened up, punishing severely each small offensive mistake. The Rapids did generate one last excellent chance in the 85th minute, with Cooke again finding Casey's head with a cross. Casey, who was positioned right in front of the goal, met the cross well with his head, but his effort was over the bar.

Everton broke the deadlock in the 87th minute. Second half substitution Jose Baxter went on a surging run forward into the penalty area and toward the end line before playing the ball back to an unmarked Osman. Osman threaded the ball past a diving Coundoul and two Rapids defenders on the endline.

The Rapids nearly pulled it back in the 89th minute. Clark's slaloming run went from the left flank to the top of the box, beating three Everton defenders on the way before playing the ball to Cooke. Cooke unleashed a rocket shot, but Howard once again was able to dive and make one last clutch save.


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Revs look for payback vs. Houston

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said that his team isn't weary of facing the Houston Dynamo for a major championship.

But he sure is noticing the scoreboard after the Dynamo defeated the Revs twice in MLS Cup.

"They have two championships," Joseph said. "We're just trying to get one."

That one might not be MLS Cup right now, but SuperLiga is the next best thing. Both teams waded through the group stages and ousted venerable Mexican teams on their way to get here.

Now the only obstacle left for the Revs is a familiar orange one that they haven't really managed to conquer when the chips were on the line.

"They beat us twice in MLS Cup," Joseph said. "You could say they are up 2-0 in terms of titles. We know what we're going to have to do [Tuesday] to beat a good team. It's going to be a tough game. We're up to the challenge. We're at home, hopefully in front of a good crowd. That will energize us. We'll be ready from the starting whistle."

That challenge is complicated by a rivalry that Revs defender Chris Albright said was "good for the league."

Joseph won't dub it a rivalry, but said the stakes could impact how and if a rivalry develops.

"It's going to develop," Joseph said. "We've played together for the last two MLS Cup Finals. To be another final against them shows that both teams have some good quality players."

New England swept the Dynamo during the regular season, winning 3-0 in the opening match of the season at Gillette Stadium on March 29 and shocking the Dynamo 2-0 at Robertson Stadium on July 16.

Yet the injury-riddled Dynamo didn't have their full squad in either of those games, a point Revs captain Steve Ralston noted.

"They are a great team," Ralston said. "We have to realize that they have a lot of quality players. We were fortunate this year that we caught them on a couple of off days. We played them in the first game of the season, and we obviously had an advantage playing in that situation when it's cold. In the second game, they were missing five or six starters. They are a different team now. They have [Brian] Ching and [Dwayne De Rosario] back and they have a different team now."

The Revs have a different, healthier team themselves. The two critical losses for the Revs are due to non-health related absences: Michael Parkhurst is away with the U.S. Olympic team and Jay Heaps is suspended after picking up a red card after the 1-0 semifinal win over Atlante.

Without two of his three starting defenders, Nicol will have to chop and change at the back. Left back Amaechi Igwe will slide into the center of a four-man defense. Rookie Chris Tierney, who started the second group game against Pachuca, will play on the left side of defense.

"It's not ideal, but you have to deal with it," Nicol said. "There is no point in crying and moaning about it. You have to show the confidence in somebody and see how they react and then go from there. If we're groaning to everyone that we don't have any choices and we don't have any replacements, the guy who is going to play there isn't going to think. We're not going to camouflage anything. We're going to see what they are made of."

It's a difficult spot for the two young players, but Nicol believes they'll have what it takes to help the Revs bring home the SuperLiga crown.

"In some respects, it's a big game to be starting off with, but both guys have played there before," Nicol said. "Both guys are aware of what we are looking for. Both guys are capable of doing that. We're confident that they'll go ahead and do a good job."


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McBride takes strange path to Beijing

It's funny how some doors will open for people in the strangest ways.

Just ask U.S. Olympic team forward Brian McBride, who has to give a big assist to West Ham United and U.S. international defender Jonathan Spector for playing at the Beijing Summer Games.

After U.S. Olympic assistant coach Lubos Kubik scouted a game between West Ham and McBride's Fulham team in the English Premiership last winter, Spector was in a playful mood with his good friend McBride.

"Lubos, did you hear Brian wants to play in the Olympics?" Spector jokingly said.

A few other jokes were thrown around. But eventually McBride got serious and said he would consider playing for the U.S. one more time if the opportunity arose.

"I threw it out as just talk at the time, but a few days later, Peter [Nowak, the U.S. coach] called me," McBride said. "I was a little shocked but that's really when it became an interest and a possibility. The idea has come a long way since then but it was pretty crazy at the time."

As it turned out, Spector, who was expected to anchor the defense, injured his right hip and won't be participating at the Summer Games.

McBride, however, is expected to play a vital role for the U.S. in China. As the oldest (36) and most experienced player -- three World Cups and a 14-year professional career, McBride will be a leader on and off the pitch.

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In fact, McBride will be one of the oldest, if not the oldest U.S. men's soccer player to participate at the Olympics, being some 12 years the senior as the next oldest player -- defender Michael Parkhurst, another over-age player on the 18-man roster.

"That's pretty funny," McBride said. "I don't look at myself as being 36 and I certainly don't feel 36. For me it's more about the mentality so I think I have a little more upstairs as far as experience that will help me. When it comes down to it, it really is all about how you play on the field, and being a part of this team, regardless of what age you are."

McBride later added: "They're making me feel much younger than I am."

Since McBride has been around the block and then some for club and country, he some advice for his Olympic teammates who haven't been to many world tournaments.

"For anybody, regardless of where you're playing, it's important that you focus on the things that you can do well and not be concerned about the things that go on when you get into big tournaments like this," he said. "I wouldn't call them distractions, but there are a lot of things that go into how each team plays. You have to try to put those things out of your mind as much as possible and focus on what got you there. I think that will be one of the goals for us."

When McBride retired internationally after the 2006 World Cup, everyone thought he would focus on his club career. He made sure Fulham, faced with possible relegation, stayed in the Premiership with a few timely goals late in the season. Out of contract, McBride decided to return to MLS and play for the Chicago Fire. After seemingly endless negotiations with Toronto FC, a deal was made with the Fire and McBride signed Wednesday.

McBride will play for the U.S. at least three times in China. He has put on the red, white and blue jersey 96 times for the full national team, scoring 30 goals. He is the only U.S. player to score in two consecutive World Cups. He won't be wearing his usual No. 20. The team only had No. 17 available.

Beyond any numbers, though, McBride leaves it on the field. Perhaps former U.S. national team manager and New York Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena once said it best.

"He's a real forward," he said. "When he steps on the field you know he is going to give you 90 minutes. I don't know how much more you can ask of him. With his dimensions, obviously he is very good in the air. He's a very good player at holding the ball and pressuring the opponent. He is invaluable."

McBride should prove invaluable to the team as a target man and goal-scorer and someone who can take some of the pressure off 18-year-old Jozy Altidore, the team's lone scoring threat during CONCACAF qualifying. Altidore was kicked, tripped and knocked around roughly during those games because opposing teams did not respect whoever he was paired with. Sometimes he was alone up front.

McBride should change that.

Nowak's main concern for McBride and several of the other European players such as Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley is having them not just fit, but match-fit. Remember, McBride hadn't played a competitive match since the beginning of May.

"We have guys who are playing in Major League Soccer right now who are match-fit and we have a group of players who are in preseason," said Nowak, who had personalized workouts for the Euro-based players.

"We've ... done our homework with that and know how to accommodate our players needs to get them ready for the Japan game."

That's the first U.S. game against Japan in Tianjin Aug. 7 before the Netherlands in Tianjin Aug. 10 and Nigeria in Beijing Aug. 13.

"We want to get out of our group," McBride said. "That's the mentality that we need to have going in. After that, anything can happen and we just hope to play our game ... and the rest will take care of itself."


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Crew welcome two-week vacation

COLUMBUS -- Unlike the previous time when the Columbus Crew absorbed a 2-0 away loss but were eager to get back on the field five days later to redeem themselves, the latest 2-0 road setback left the team happy to have two weeks before its next match.

Following Saturday's defeat at Houston many of the players headed to their offseason homes or vacation spots because coach Sigi Schmid does not have a practice scheduled until Aug. 11.

"For the mind that's going to be good," said Schmid, who will spend this week in southern California where his wife still lives. "We all need to get away for three or four days."

It's not just a mental break. A depleted starting XI against the Dynamo was reduced further when defender Chad Marshall and midfielder Brad Evans suffered knee injuries.

"Maybe it is a good time. It will help some guys get healthy," midfielder Brian Carroll said.

The Crew entered the match without injured midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi and defender Frankie Hejduk and forward Steven Lenhart were suspended (Lenhart will also miss the Aug. 16 match vs. FC Dallas). Also, starting midfielders Robbie Rogers of the U.S. and Nigerian Emmanuel Ekpo missed their second matches because of Olympic duty.

"We were hoping to get a good win or at least a point out of it going into the little break but now we have to regroup," defender Jed Zayner said. "We had half our starting lineup out. It's going to be nice to get people back, regroup and get set for our last push to the playoffs."

Columbus hasn't qualified for the postseason since 2004 but is in good position to do so despite a 1-2-2 record in its past five matches. The Crew missed an opportunity to jump over New England into first on Saturday and now have only a two-point advantage on third-place Chicago. The Fire have played one fewer match and New England two.

Still, the situation is a lot brighter than the previous seasons Zayner experienced in Columbus.

"It's been a tough two years. It takes time to build a team," he said. "Look at Houston. How long have they been together? Four years since San Jose. Now that we've built this core, we trust each other. We'll fight for each other and when the going gets tough we're still going to put in the minutes for each other."

The Crew failed to build on the momentum from a 2-0 win at Colorado. Against the Dynamo, the Crew had four glorious chances in the first 16 minutes of the second half to cut a two-goal deficit but Evans missed on a couple and Pat Onstad stopped Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

"We talked about it at halftime -- if we dug a little bit deeper, put in a little more effort we would create good chances," Carroll said. "We had decent possession. We had decent chances. Unfortunately, we didn't put them away."

"It's tough on your morale," said Zayner. "You work so hard to get the chances in the first place. You've got to keep plugging away. You can't think it's not going to be your night because if you do you've already lost the game."

Schmid said the match came down two things.

"We didn't finish well and making two substitutions because of injuries, we couldn't make the moves we wanted tactically," he said. "Last week we probably didn't deserve to be walking out with points. (Saturday) we deserved to walk off with points. Last week we got three, this week we got none so it all evened out in the end."

The Crew will have two consecutive home matches to get untracked and make the home park a fortress again. After winning the first four times in Crew Stadium, Columbus is just 1-2-2 in the past five.

Schmid has to sort through the injuries and decide if the recent move to a 3-5-2 formation will work with the personnel available for the Dallas game.

That will come later. For now, the training center in Obetz is quiet except for players rehabbing injuries.


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Quakes still boast playoff aspirations

OAKLAND -- When you have the worst record in Major League Soccer, making the playoffs is more of a dream than an expectation. But the San Jose Earthquakes want the league to know they're still in the running for postseason play after a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy Sunday afternoon.

Earthquakes team captain Nick Garcia said "the playoff window hasn't closed," and looks forward to building upon the club's recent success.

"We haven't lost in a month," Garcia said. "Three ties and a win are decent results. Things are optimistic right now, and our destiny is in our own hands. With eight or nine games still to play at home, I think we have a legitimate shot."

The Earthquakes playoff hopes got a big boost when Ryan Cochrane scored in the 90th minute to give San Jose the win Sunday in front of another big crowd at McAfee Coliseum.

"Three points have been a long time coming, but it's always good to win in front of our fans," Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said. "It was a terrific comeback in the last couple minutes of the game, and it showed character from our team. We're becoming more like the team we want to be, and I think we played well today."

San Jose jumped out to the lead in the eighth minute, as Arturo Alvarez scored in his Earthquakes debut.

"It was nice for to Arturo score. He's really matured into a good player in this league, and we're very lucky to have him on our team," Yallop said. "I'm very pleased for him. He's a young one, and very good for the future of this club."

San Jose made it 2-0 when Darren Huckerby scored in the 40th minute, his second goal in as many games.

"Both Darren (Huckerby) and (Francisco) Lima haven't really trained for two months, and before our last home game, neither had trained for the whole week, so their fitness is not near what it will be in three or four weeks time," Yallop said. "But the guys we've added have made a difference for us, and that's important."

Los Angeles tied the game through goals by Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle before Cochrane's last-minute heroics, but Yallop was still pleased with his team's overall performance.

"I thought Ramiro Corrales really drove us on today. He was terrific in the middle of the field," Yallop said. "We put a lot of energy putting the ball forward and it was good to see. I was very happy in our efforts with both sides of the ball against a team that scores a ton of goals. I was very happy in the stuff we created."

Coming into the game, the Earthquakes had scored just three goals total in their last eight matches, and hadn't scored a goal against the Galaxy all season.

"It was a wide open game," Yallop said. "Either team could have won, but it was nice for us to finally get a good win. It was a good showpiece for the fans -- we showed that we don't give up. I think we've added some good attacking options. We're not done yet, but we're starting to get there, we're starting to build, and hopefully we can become a strong team for years to come."

With FC Dallas' victory Sunday in Toronto, San Jose now sits seven points shy of a playoff place in the Western Conference. But with 11 games still on the schedule, there's still plenty of time to come up with a happy ending to the Earthquakes' first season back in Major League Soccer.

"We starting to establish a good rhythm now," Yallop said, "and with our next game at home -- if we can get a win out of that game (against New England) then we have a real good chance at getting a run into to try and make the playoffs, which is our whole aim."


Falcao Interested In Prem Switch - Agent
Falcao Interested In Prem Switch - Agent
Quakes hope to build off win