Sun Oct 12 00:24:08 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Goats deal Earthquakes' playoff hopes a crushing blow

---

Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The San Jose Earthquakes' chances of earning a spot in the 2008 Major League Soccer Cup playoffs suffered a crushing blow with a 1-0 defeat vs. Chivas USA at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday night.

Justin Braun scored the game's only goal in the seventh minute as the Goats put on a defensive clinic on the road to preserve the victory. Despite allowing the 'Quakes to possess the ball for the majority of the game, Chivas USA held San Jose to just one shot on goalkeeper Dan Kennedy the entire match.

With the win, Chivas USA puts a little pressure on the Houston Dynamo at the top of the Western Conference table. The Goats are just a point back of the leaders, but Houston has two games in hand, including a home match vs. D.C. United on Sunday.

The Earthquakes now sit second-to-last in the West and are five points out of the last playoff spot with just three matches to play on their schedule.

Saturday's only goal came on a quick counter attack after a San Jose corner kick. The corner was cleared by the defense to Alecko Eskandarian, and his long-ball over the top of the defense found Braun, who made no mistake in slotting a perfectly placed shot past 'Quakes 'keeper Joe Cannon.

The goal was Braun's fourth of the season.

Chivas USA (12-10-6), which has won six of its last seven MLS fixtures, including the past four, hosts Colorado on Oct. 19 in its next league fixture while San Jose (7-11-9) plays at Houston on Wednesday before playing at Kansas City next Saturday.