KC's Espinoza keeping World Cup dream alive

Roger Espinoza is hoping to go to the World Cup as part of the Honduran national team. (Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Roger Espinoza’s dream is within his grasp. Now the countdown begins.

If the 23-year-old Honduran international continues starting and impressing for Wizards manager Peter Vermes in a newfound role at left back, he has a good chance to be on a plane to South Africa this summer with los Catrachos.

The alternative is not even worth thinking about at this point for Espinoza. All that stands between him and a trip to the World Cup is hard work and a couple breaks along the way.

“As a kid -- in Kansas City, in college, in club -- everybody dreams of being in a World Cup,” Espinoza said. “Now that I have the opportunity to maybe go to the World Cup, I’m working hard.”

Before the season started, it looked like that work might have to be put in someplace other than Kansas City. Espinoza started 12 games and played in 22 his rookie year in 2008, but only made six starts last season, though he also missed time playing with the national team at last summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

He only ended up made six starts in 2009, and Honduras’ national-team coach, Reinaldo Rueda, was quoted as saying the young player would need to find regular playing time if he wanted to have a shot at making the trip to South Africa. In the end, Vermes squashed any rumors of a potential loan move before they could gain any momentum.

“There was talks about going somewhere,” Espinoza said, “but Peter wanted to work with me because he had already planned that I was going to play left back.”

So far Vermes is happy with Espinoza’s progress through three games, all starts, although both acknowledge that he has plenty of room for improvement. It also helps that early-season standout Ryan Smith has occupied plenty of attention at left midfield, simplifying Espinoza’s role.

“Roger tends to stay a little more and allow Smith to do his offensive stuff,” Vermes said.

As far as Espinoza is concerned, Smith’s tendency to go forward has only made his transition to left back even more seamless. After playing at left midfield his first two years in the league, Espinoza knows where Smith is likely to be, how to play him the ball and how to move off of him even if he can only go forward in spurts.

“It makes my job easier,” Espinoza said. “He allows me to go up and overlap him at times because he is really keeping the right back and right mid back there. It gives me time to go up the field and help him up there.”

With Smith streaking up the sideline and Espinoza supporting him, that partnership has been one of the Wizards strongest. In the process, Espinoza has stated his case to Rueda, and Kansas City has also started the season strong, something that is equally important to the ultracompetitive Honduran.

But as much as Espinoza would like to be with his teammates in Kansas City all summer marching towards the playoffs, something bigger is calling to him from South Africa. Now all that’s left to do is build on his case for being one of 23 players in the Honduras squad that makes the trip.

“Being in that spot right now is special,” Espinoza said. “I know it could happen, and hopefully it happens.”

Wizards make road debut at Qwest FieldAlbin quiet on Magpies

Amarikwa hopes Colorado embraces him the way SJ did

Quincy Amarikwa could become a big hit in Colorado. (Courtsey of Colorado Rapids)

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — When he joined the Rapids earlier this month, Quincy Amarikwa said he wanted to be adopted by the fans in Colorado just as he had been by the fans in San Jose. He hoped his work ethic and bustling play would go down as well with Rapids fans as they had in Northern California.

In about the 73rd minute of Sunday’s home game against Toronto, just after Colorado had regained the lead through Jeff Larentowicz’s free kick, Amarikwa got his wish. After a typical scurry for the ball as two Toronto players tried to avoid him by passing it back and forth, Amarikwa successfully got a touch on it and disrupted the play. A huge cheer followed in the home terraces.

“I noticed that; they were pretty happy with me running out there,” Amarikwa said after the game. “That’s how I play. I enjoyed it.”

The 22-year-old came on in the 67th minute of Sunday’s game to replace Colin Clark. He also enjoyed a 10-minute spell against Kansas City in league play on April 10 and then played a full 90 against the same team in the U.S. Open Cup.

Amarikwa did manage a couple of shots on goal in the Toronto game but acknowledges he has to play more minutes to begin to relax and feel a part of the team.

“My brain was running 100 miles an hour out there,” he said. “That will come. I’ll settle in as I play a little bit more.”

Clearly, Amarikwa’s playing time will be limited by the presence of Omar Cummings and Conor Casey, who have notched five of Colorado’s six MLS goals so far this season. But he can carve out a niche for himself as an impact player off the bench and, as a result, can distinguish himself from teammate Andre Akpan, whom head coach Gary Smith sees more as a target player able to hold up the ball.

Smith is happy with Amarikwa’s efforts and tenacity so far even if he knows the youngster still has some way to go to get where both he and the coach wants him.

“He’s all energy, he’s boisterous and he’s enthusiastic,” Smith said. “I thought he raised the team as well as the fans. I noticed the difference in the personality of the crowd. Can he be a little more cultured in front of goal? Definitely. But he brought us something that was needed. He improved the tempo.”

Rapids' Thompson still fighting for top spotMessi has no Premier plans

Revs head home from SJ with work to do

Loss to Quakes exposes familiar problems for New England

New England traveled to San Jose with a two-game winning streak and a whole bunch of momentum in its favor after sweeping Toronto FC aside 4-1 at Gillette Stadium last weekend.

The Revs will depart the Bay Area on Sunday with a jarring reminder that there’s plenty of work still to do after a 2-0 defeat to the Earthquakes on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Watch: FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

“I didn’t think we were particularly good tonight,” New England boss Steve Nicol told reporters after the game. “I don’t think there is any denying that.”

Chris Wondolowski and Ike Opara inflicted the second-half damage for San Jose, but the Revs may wonder whether the buildup to the 57th-minute opener played a pivotal role deciding the outcome of the match.

Revolution midfielder Chris Tierney and Earthquakes midfielder Joey Gjertsen challenged for a 50-50 ball in the New England half. Gjertsen arrived first with gusto and Tierney fell to the ground in the collision. Tierney appealed for the foul, but referee Elias Bazakos waved away the claims and allowed play to continue.

Gjertsen subsequently started the move for the first goal as he played a diagonal ball into Ryan Johnson's feet. The Jamaican striker held up the ball in the attacking third, turned and played Wondolowski through the middle as the Revs futilely raised their arms for offside.

Wondolowski tucked home Johnson's feed to provide the breakthrough after Preston Burpo made three fine first-half saves to keep the match deadlocked heading into the second stanza.

“Sadly, I think the goals that went against us shouldn’t have happened,” Nicol said. “I think the first goal was offside, and that obviously changes the game. Like I said, we didn’t play well.”

Opara's second goal in as many weeks after 72 minutes condemned the Revs to their second defeat in three road matches, but one changed sequence or one missed opportunity likely wouldn't have turned the tide as the Earthquakes controlled proceedings for the majority of the match.

Familiar problems crept to the surface once again as New England struggled to cope with Shalrie Joseph's (right hip flexor strain) absence for the third time in four matches and failed to produce the type of performance usually required to walk away with a road result.

“We got off to a slow start,” Tierney said. “I thought we were lucky going into the half nil-nil. I thought it was a questionable build-up to their first [goal] and poor marking on the second. I don’t think we deserved three points tonight. It was a fair bill.”

For most of the match, the Revs labored in possession, though they did show an ability to keep the ball for brief periods. Without the ability to connect passes with some consistency through the middle of the park, the Earthquakes were able to wrest control of the match, press forward and rely on wingers Bobby Convey and Gjertsen to provide ample service from the wide areas.

San Jose's supply from the wings and from set pieces caused New England significant problems and Opara's header exposed the Revolution on a set piece for the second time this season.

“It was just one of those nights where we never found our game,” Revolution defender Darrius Barnes told reporters after the match. “We didn’t get the ball moving, we didn’t find the chemistry tonight. We couldn’t link up passes. It was a frustrating night overall. We had a few chances that we could have stolen. We [could have] got ahead early, but we couldn’t take advantage of those. Then they came back and got their own goal and that was the difference in the game”.

Marko Perovic's impressive full debut, another fine performance from Burpo and a late attacking flurry will give the Revolution positives to cling to as they fly home on Sunday, but New England will start its preparations for Colorado's visit next Saturday knowing improvement is required to make the most of the upcoming three-match homestand.

Gijon no match for SevillaWondolowski delivers when Quakes need him

Wondolowski delivers when Quakes need him

Backup striker called to action, delivers in win over Revolution

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — To Earthquakes fans unhappy with his level of play in San Jose’s penalty-kick loss to Real Salt Lake during U.S. Open Cup qualifying play on Wednesday, backup forward Chris Wondolowski offered very little in the way of a rebuttal.

In fact, he agreed with all the criticism.

“I had a shocker,” Wondolowski said. “I was horrible.”

So when Wondolowski was pressed into the starting lineup Saturday against powerful New England in the wake of hamstring injuries suffered Wednesday by Arturo Alvarez, Cornell Glen and Eduardo, it wasn’t hard to envision another less-than-scintillating performance.

Instead, Wondolowski turned in some of his best work since arriving back in San Jose in the middle of last season, scoring the ice-breaking goal in a 2-0 victory that could have easily seen the Earthquakes post twice that many goals.

Watch: FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

“He’s valuable,” Yallop said. “Chris just really works hard every day in training, and when he gets his chance, he’s not afraid to play and I think that’s a sign of a good pro.”

Maybe all that talk emanating from the Quakes about their improved depth isn’t just so much talk after all. At 2-1 in MLS play, they’re above .500 for the first time since being re-formed in 2008 -- and they have a two-match winning streak heading into next weekend’s road game against 1-3 Chivas USA.

“To be honest, this is one of the deepest teams I’ve ever been on, and I’ve been on some pretty good teams over in Houston,” said Wondolowski, a Bay Area product who went with the original Quakes when they became the Dynamo in 2006, only to be traded home last June. “Each man, from 1 to 24, it doesn’t matter who we put in there, I think they can do the job. We have that cohesion.”

Wondolowski scored in the 57th minute to break through for San Jose, which dominated possession for much of the evening in the absence of New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph.

Joey Gjertsen fed Ryan Johnson, who turned and broke into the Revs’ penalty area. Once there, Johnson slipped a perfectly weighted pass between two New England defenders. Wondolowski, having beaten his marker, ran onto the ball and easily slotted it past Revs goalkeeper Preston Burpo.

“He’s a great finisher around the goal,” Johnson said. “You’ve just got to give him a chance, and he showed it tonight.”

Playing alongside Johnson was a huge part of Wondolowski’s transformation from his performance Wednesday. Against RSL, Glen went out in the 13th minute and the Quakes opted for rookie Steve Beitashour instead of another forward.

That left Wondolowski as a target forward alone up top, a situation that’s never been his forte. Saturday, Wondolowski could fly under the radar a bit while New England’s defenders took their whacks at Johnson, San Jose’s leading goal scorer from last season.

“I have to tip my hat to Ryan Johnson,” Wondolowski said. “That was an unbelievable ball, and all I had to do was just tap it in, so I thank him.”

Wondolowski and Johnson also teamed up to pester New England’s back line, setting a tone defensively that translated into San Jose’s best possession of the year, by far.

“They were great tonight,” Yallop said. “They started the pressure high, and made it very difficult to play against us. The way we played was more like what I want. I think we now have an understanding of what it takes to shut teams down here.”

Although Wondolowski was an irresistible storyline, the win was emblematic of more than just one player’s triumph. It was the kind of team-wide success that Yallop has been searching for ever since he came back to San Jose.

There was rookie Ike Opara’s second goal in as many games, again off of a feed from Bobby Convey. There was Joe Cannon coming up with three saves in injury time to record his first shutout of the season and 100th career MLS victory. There was Convey saving a sure goal off the end line.

“The all-around play was great,” Yallop said. “Very solid, very dynamic going forward, I thought our passing was clean. I thought all aspects of the game that I’ve really been focusing on [in training], they did. They did a great job. Hopefully it propels us to a nice confident run.”

Geoff Lepper covers the Earthquakes for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at sanjosequakes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @sjquakes.

Ronaldo calm ahead of ClasicoBusch: 'Maybe Real Salt Lake are my daddy'

Los Angeles revel in Buddle's goal-scoring exploits

Arena calls Galaxy's only scorer this season "outstanding"

CARSON, Calif. — Another game, another standout performance by Edson Buddle.

Scoring two goals against Real Salt Lake Buddle accomplished several things. First, he helped the Galaxy beat RSL 2-1, thereby somewhat avenging last season’s MLS Cup final loss. Secondly, Buddle became the first player in MLS history to score the first seven goals for his club to start off a season.

Watch: FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Also, and equally important, he was able to distinguish himself in the eyes of Landon Donovan.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it,” Donovan said. “The goals are going in but there are other chances in the game that he’s just missing. He’s getting pulled around by people like you wouldn’t believe. He’s getting fouled and hammered.”

Buddle’s seven goals on the season set a new mark but more importantly have the Galaxy sitting atop the league with a 4-0-0 record.

Last season, the Galaxy picked up win number four on July 4. This season, it came in the middle of April and it was the hardest thus far.

Even though Real Salt Lake were missing Javier Morales and Ned Grabavoy, the visitors were game for nearly everything the Galaxy had to offer. Buddle opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a header off a corner kick, but RSL pulled level before the break as Kyle Beckerman scored from 22 yards out, on a ball that Buddle said may have been either a “mental lapse” or a “lucky break.”

The teams traded jabs in the second half until Buddle found himself open in the 76th minute and buried a 17-yard shot past Rimando. Riding his record-setting streak, Buddle said he has remained grounded despite the accomplishment.

“I always stay level headed. I’m not a person to get over the top because… there are ups and downs,” said Buddle, who was unaware of the record he set. “I’m just enjoying it right now. I’m glad I’m in a good rhythm and just hope I can keep scoring.”

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said his player is just doing his job.

“Forwards are supposed to score goals, he’s scoring goals,” Arena said. “He’s been great. What more can you say? His performance has been outstanding. I don’t know how else to describe what he’s done to date.”

RSL tried to outmuscle and play physical with Buddle. Central defenders Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave tried to contain Buddle, but were not too successful in doing so.

Buddle and Borchers, though, were going back and forth throughout the game, and not just with their respective physiques.

“Anytime the ball went in the air they basically just grabbed him,” Donovan said of Buddle. “He should have had a lot more fouls called for him… but he fought through and kept going. He got frustrated but we told him to keep going and score a goal. That’s how you respond and he did.”

After one particular series, Buddle and Borchers exchanged words.

“[Buddle] was pretty riled up,” Donovan said. “I said ‘Look, man, just go put it in the net. That’s the best way to shut him up.’ And he did. And Nat didn’t have a lot to say after that.”

For Buddle, though, what mattered most was getting the goal, not that he scored it.

“It was good to get the goal, but I was a little tired,” Buddle said. “I was just happy that we got the lead back and I just wanted to hold onto it and make sure we won the game and finished the game off right and not do the same thing we did in the first half.”

The Galaxy are now firmly in first place, five points ahead of Houston. But at least one player isn’t ready to shift into cruise control.

“It’s still early,” Donovan said. “You can’t get carried away. But the beauty is we have guys who have . . . thousands of professional games who aren’t even playing for us yet. Our best days are still ahead.”

Magee, Galaxy set for rematch with RSLPrimera Liga round-up

Wizards make road debut at Qwest Field

KC looks to foil Sounders at home for second straight year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After two wins and six points in the bag after two matches at home, the Kansas City Wizards aren’t exactly being eased into life on the road.

More than 30,000 Sounders fans packed into Qwest Field Saturday afternoon will likely have something to say about that. And the Sounders themselves are on a bit of a mission, looking to avenge a 1-0 loss at the hands of Kansas City in Seattle almost exactly a year ago.

But rather than be intimidated by their surroundings, the Wizards are betting that -- like a year ago -- the fans and the occasion will only heighten their play.

“The atmosphere just makes you play better,” left back Roger Espinoza said. “It’s 30,000-plus in the stadium, and we are looking forward to that. It makes you feel like you are a professional soccer player there.”

Last season Kansas City took advantage of an early red card to Kasey Keller and a late Davy Arnaud strike to put their names among the three sides -- Chelsea and the New England Revolution being the others -- that found a way to collect three points at Qwest in 2009.

The New York Red Bulls pulled off the same feat a few weeks ago, but with another season to build the squad, coach Sigi Schmid and the Sounders figure to be an even stiffer test at home this time around.

“It’s definitely going to be a very big measuring stick for us,” Wizards coach Peter Vermes said. “We have quite a few down the road. Lots of teams with new stadiums, different environments that a lot of our guys have never even seen before.”

The team flew to Seattle on Thursday, a 1,500-mile flight that was more than likely a new experience for most of the team’s 10 new additions. This weekend represents their first chance to acclimate themselves to what they can expect on the road for the rest of the season.

Thus far Kansas City has held court on their home turf, posting two shutouts while playing two distinctly different styles of teams in D.C. United and Colorado. In the Sounders, the Wizards will face a team built in a similar vein.

Both teams prefer to possess the ball on the ground, and both are attacking sides with dynamic players going forward to compliment stout defense cores. Each even boasts a speedy English winger on the left flank in K.C.’s Ryan Smith and Seattle’s Steve Zakuani.

But perhaps the biggest difference between the two is the presence of Freddie Ljungberg, who Vermes called the “motor” for the hosts, and Freddy Montero, who burst onto the MLS scene one year ago.

“We know full well that they’ll try drive the game, and we’ll have to absorb some pressure at times,” Vermes said.

Another interesting twist for the Wizards is that they didn’t seem entirely comfortable on turf in a 2-1 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match.

The Wizards trained on the turf field at their Swope Park training complex most of the week, but the transition from grass to turf -- even with time to prepare -- isn’t always a smooth process.

“For some reason on turf, you have to put that extra focus in because most of the bounces are not going to come your way,” forward Kei Kamara said. “It’s just a lot faster.”

That speed should benefit both sides, something Vermes has been reminding his team this week. In Josh Wolff, Kamara Smith and Arnaud, Kansas City has plenty of on-form talent to matchup with Seattle's potent lineup.

And although snatching another three points in the Emerald City won’t be easy, the Wizards know they can’t afford to focus too much on what they’re up against.

“They’re a good team, no doubt,” Vermes said. “But we can’t make any mistakes in thinking we don’t have weapons as well.”

Rapids' Thompson still fighting for top spotPrimera Liga round-up

Busch: 'Maybe Real Salt Lake are my daddy'

Quakes keeper felled by PKs, this time in U.S. Open Cup

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Anyone on the San Jose roster admitted disappointment Wednesday at not being able to complete the transformation of a two-goal deficit into a victory against Real Salt Lake in their U.S. Open Cup qualifying match.

But for goalkeeper Jon Busch, losing to RSL in a penalty-kick shootout hurt on a more personal, visceral level.

“It’s like Groundhog Day for me,” Busch said after giving up goals to all five RSL shooters in a 5-3 PK loss. “Just a few months ago, it feels like, you know? As [former Red Sox pitcher] Pedro Martinez said back in the day, the Yankees were his daddy. Maybe Salt Lake’s my daddy on penalty kicks.”

Busch’s sense of déjà vu stemmed from his last MLS appearance, in the 2009 Eastern Conference championship. Real Salt Lake won that match in PKs, too, topping the Fire 5-4 and bouncing them from the postseason at Toyota Park.

Busch, who made three top-notch saves just to get the Fire into OT, couldn’t come up with another stop during the shootout. RSL missed twice, but both shots were off frame.

The same held true Wednesday. Busch was unable to prevent Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Robbie Findley, Robbie Russell and Andy Williams from converting.

“I read the first two well, I just couldn’t get close enough to them,” Busch said. “I had a little info from [Earthquakes goalkeeper coach Jason] Batty on where [Beckerman] went last time, which was to the keeper’s right. Unfortunately, he went to my left this time. When I went through this in the semifinals against them, I knew a couple of them wanted to go up the middle, so I made it a point not to go early this time, thinking that they may try it again. But they took them well.

“It’s a tough situation," he continued. "Sometimes you get lucky and you get close enough to them and other times you don’t.”

Busch made his Quakes debut after signing with the team two weeks ago; San Jose snapped him up on the cheap after Chicago released him on the eve of the season. But it wasn’t the result Busch was seeking.

“Unfortunately, we made three mistakes and they punished us three times,” Busch said. “We’ve got to be better and cut those mistakes out, because offensively, we’re a good team. We’re going to get our goals. You get three goals, you should win a game, bottom line.”

Busch is expected to be back on the bench Saturday, giving way to regular No. 1 Joe Cannon as the Quakes return to their MLS schedule and host New England.

Geoff Lepper covers the Earthquakes for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at sanjosequakes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @sjquakes.

Magee, Galaxy set for rematch with RSLOn Revista…