SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On game:
“The first 30-35 minutes, we were excellent and could have been 3-nil up. Their ‘keeper was excellent and kept them in it. When you don’t put those chances away, you are kicking yourself a bit and they were able to get themselves back in the game. They had a great finish on their goal and came out with some confidence in the second half. I am proud that we didn’t stop fighting and earned at least a point out of the match.”
On Alan Gordon:
“Alan has been terrific for us this year. He is everything you want in a player, a great person and a hard-worker who wants to do well for his team. He is a great teammate. We have relied on him the past two games and he has had two outstanding finishes the past two matches that have gotten us some important points. I am very happy for him right now.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD ALAN GORDON
On equalizing goal:
“That was all Chris (Wondolowski). He brought it down and laid off a great ball for me. I didn’t do well putting it away on the initial shot, but luckily I got to the rebound and was able to finish. Once I saw I had a chance to follow up my shot, I knew I had to have it.”
On Quakes unbeaten streak at Buck Shaw Stadium:
“This team has a ‘never say die’ attitude as is, but when you have the fans behind you it makes the difference in most of these matches. Tonight, we had plenty of opportunities, and missed a penalty kick, but we kept fighting and ended up with a hard-earned point. It’s important to get these points at home if you want to be a true playoff threat.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER JASON HERNANDEZ
On match:
“We find a way to make it interesting. Unfortunately, the goals haven’t been coming for us the last couple of matches, but this team knows how to scratch and claw for every point and you saw that tonight. We stayed confident and positive throughout and we are finding ways to win. The heart and character of this team has shown in the early part of this season.”
On Alan Gordon:
“He has been a great player in this league for years, so to see him come back after all he has been through is special. Credit to him and all the hard work he put it in after the surgery in the off-season. It’s paying off – he’s been a terror for opposing defenses all season. He is looking really sharp right now around the goal and we hope he continues with that form because we are going to need him to contribute as we enter the middle of our schedule.”
COLUMBUS CREW HEAD COACH ROBERT WARZYCHA
General comments on the match:
“If you told me after 30 minutes, that it would be 1-1 at the end of the game, I would not have believed you, because (San Jose) played pretty well in the beginning. They pushed us pretty much all the way in the back and they had a number of chances to score a goal. (Goalkeeper) Andy (Gruenebaum) was unbelievable. He saved the penalty (kick), obviously, and had a phenomenal game.
“The game cooled off a little bit (after the penalty kick). We started to posses the ball more and (find scoring) opportunities. The first half probably ended up even, and we scored a good goal heading into the locker room (at halftime). That was a nice piece of work by (Justin) Meram. The second half, I thought we controlled the tempo. There were long balls and crosses that we were able to defend. Then we pushed for a goal, and they scored in the end.”
On San Jose’s high tempo in the first half:
“We wanted to do the same. We came here not just to defend. We came here to play. We wanted to try to put pressure on and win the ball high on the field, but they were good. Their movement off the ball and spacing was pretty good and they dribble well. Sometimes, you get pushed inside the box, and you have to be comfortable defending. If you’re comfortable defending, the other team is not going to score. You can’t be afraid because you’re defending.”
COLUMBUS CREW GOALKEEPER ANDY GRUENEBAUM
On his penalty kick save:
“We watched a lot of video on (San Jose’s) goals, and I happened to notice that Wondo’s (Chris Wondolowski) a pretty good player, and that he goes that way (to his right) at least once, and hits it hard. So I just dove and made myself big. I noticed that it was going back to my (left), I started to over-dive it, but I just stacked the pads (and made the stop).”
On the first-half offensive flurry by San Jose that he turned away:
“We came out just a little sluggish. You could tell after their flurry, we settled down and actually created some good chances on our own. We had some good defensive plays to keep us (in the game). That’s your job as a goalkeeper sometimes, is to make a few saves and keep (your team) in the game if you can. J (Justin Meram) got one (a goal), at the end there (of the first half). Unfortunately, we were unable to hold on (for the victory.)”
COLUMBUS CREW FORWARD JUSTIN MERAM
On his goal:
“I got the ball, I picked my head up, and he (the defender) was backing up. I just kind of saw the back of the goal. I think that was my first finesse shot (in a while). Honestly, I saw the opening, I hit it and it went it.”
On goals in back-to-back games for Columbus:
“In college, I scored a lot of goals. As a rookie last year, I didn’t get much of a chance. Finally when I got the monkey off my back (last week), now I go out and play. I feel comfortable. I got that natural instinct back, which is good. As a goal-scorer, there’s always those droughts and moments where you’re either hot or you’re not. I’m going to keep riding this as long as I can.”
