Комментарии к сообщению #51784

EARTHQUAKES DROP 2-0 DECISION TO EUROPEAN POWER ROSENBORG IN LA MANGA CUP

Quakes Hit Post Twice in Defeat; Mulrooney, Donovan Play First Game of Preseason

LA MANGA, SPAIN (February 17, 2003) - The San Jose Earthquakes fell 2-0 to Rosenborg Trondheim of Norway on Monday afternoon in their first match of the La Manga Cup. The Quakes hit the post twice in the match but could not find the back of the net. Frode Johnsen and Harald Brattbakk scored the goals for Rosenborg, which has won 11 straight Norwegian League championships and competed for eight consecutive years in the European Champions League.

After a slow first 15 minutes, the Earthquakes began to apply constant pressure the rest of the first half. Landon Donovan, who started at central midfield, twice sent teammates in on goal with well-placed through balls. Brian Ching was the recipient of the first pass in the 18th minute, but Rosenborg goalkeeper Espen Johnsen smothered his lunging effort. Manny Lagos got through on the second, but was unable to get a shot off.

Two plays a minute apart late in the first half nearly resulted in a goal for the Quakes with Brian Mullan and Ching involved in each opportunity. In the 36th minute, Mullan stripped a Rosenborg defender and crossed the ball to Ching, who headed a shot off the far post. Ching collected the rebound and dropped it to Donovan, who fired a low shot that was cleared off the line. A minute later, Quakes goalkeeper Jon Conway sent a long ball to midfield that Ching flicked on. Mullan ran onto the ball and was in alone before being tripped up from behind by a Rosenborg defender, but the referee signaled play on. Mullan shot as he was falling and Johnsen made the save.

Eight minutes into the second half, Frode Johnsen put Rosenborg up 1-0. Brattbakk got free on the left and fired a shot that Conway saved, but the rebound fell to Johnsen. He then slotted the ball into the empty net.

Ching came close to tying the match minutes later. Mullan curled in a corner kick that was cleared away by a Rosenborg defender's hand. The ball fell to Ching and he drove a left-footed shot toward the upper left corner, but his shot rang off the cross bar and bounced out of danger.

Rosenborg put the match away in the 65th minute on a goal from Brattbakk. He gathered in a loose ball on the left wing and moved in on goal before slotting a low shot past Conway for a 2-0 lead.

The Quakes next face Rubin Kazan of Russia in first round action at the La Manga Cup on Thursday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. local time. San Jose is now 1-1 in the 2003 preseason.

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Quotes:

Frank Yallop, on game: "I thought we played very well today, but the big difference was fitness. Rosenborg has been training for a while, and we have had only 2 1/2 weeks of preseason. We created great chances in the first half and early in the second half, and I feel we were a bit unlucky not to score."

Yallop, on result: "We never want to lose any games, but I was happy with our performance today. I think right now performance is the most important thing since we are still building up for the CONCACAF Champions Cup and our league."



Captain Jeff Agoos, on game: "We are not happy to lose, but we are satisfied with our effort. I think that the difference in the game was that they finished their half-chances and we didn't. We need to get better in the final third in each half, and I think that will come as we go along in preseason."



Defender Troy Dayak, on playing right back: "I felt very good out there. I have experience playing there, but the fitness needed there is different than what you need for center back. I haven't played a competitive game since early September and to come out and play 90 minutes at right back shows that I feel good physically."



Источник: San Jose Earthquakes





1-1 mot Rubin

Bjorn Berland avsluttet et lekkert Viking-angrep med i gi laget ledelsen mot russiske Rubin pa La Manga igar. Det var den store beholdningen i kampen, men russerene utnyttet passive Viking og fikk utlignet. 1-1 og uavgjort var godkjent, men seier er alltid bedre.



Av Jon Arne Ramsland

- Vi gir fra oss seieren, men vi gjor en brukbar organisering av kampen. Kampen var sjansefattig, men russerene skapte heller ikke noe spesielt mot oss. Scoringen kom ut av ingenting, oppsummerer Geir Lunde.



Spesielt positivt var det at Bjorn Berland nettet i sin tredje kamp pa rad.

- Han gjor en god kamp og virker virkelig positiv, mener han.



Likevel var det ikke de store tonene offensivt.



- Vi skapte lite. Vi kan forvente at slike kamper blir vippet i favor oss, og at vi skaper mer, men alt i alt sa er det v?re godkjent, sier Lunde.



Laget:

Frode Olsen - Odd Arne Espevoll (Bjorn Dahl fra 68.), Toni Kuivasto, Brede Hangeland, Thomas Pereira (Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim fra 46.) - Tom Sanne (Kenneth Torstveit fra 85.), Kristian Sorli, Trygve Nygaard, Peter Kopteff - Bjorn Berland og Erik Nevland (Jorgen Tengesdal).



Источник: Viking fotball