GameThread: D.C. United At San Jose Earthquakes
by Martin Shatzer on Jul 3, 2025 8:00 PM EDT
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PrintAfter a slow start to the season, D.C. United is at a point now where they need to win some tough games on the road against fairly even opponents if they're going to get back in the playoff race. Losing to one of the best teams in the league last week was to be expected, just like defeating one of the worst teams in the league on 6/10 was to be expected. But this match could go either way.
Game time: 10:00 pm EST
Television: Comcast SportsNet
Projected Starting Lineup:
| Perkins | ||||
| Graye | Jakovic | James | McTavish | |
| Simms | King | |||
| Najar | Pontius | |||
| Quaranta | Cristman |
Last minute thoughts: United's backline is a bit of a toss-up again here while Rodney Wallace recovers and Marc Burch is apparently not yet ready. This week, I think we'll see the more experienced and versatile Devon McTavish moved over to the left where he performed well on Wednesday in our Open Cup victory over the Richmond Kickers. There's also a chance that we could see Julius James or Dejan Jakovic moved out wide in favor of Juan Manuel Pena getting a start in the middle.
This could be one of the last times that we see this front six starting together as reinforcements will be arriving on 7/15 in the form of Branko Boskovic and Pablo Hernandez. Santino Quaranta is coming off an excellent mid-week performance. For United to win tonight, he and Chris Pontius will have to perform well again and outshine the Earthquakes' similarly direct attacking style of Chris Wondolowski, Bobby Convey, and Ramiro Corrales.
This is your place for pre-game, in-game, and post-game thoughts.
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San Jose has a "major announcement" 30 minutes prior to match time
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
by Dave Clark on Jul 3, 2025 8:55 PM EDT reply actions
Apparently it's blue third jerseys
Video announcement includes odd claim that the Quakes were wearing blue in 1996, when they were wearing those terrible Nike half and half shirts. I guess there was some kind of neon “blue” involved, but not as the prominent color.
by ChestRockwell on Jul 3, 2025 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
So it's been a slow season for them if this qualifies as major.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hey, as a jersey enthusiast, I think it’s a pretty cool announcement.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Will we be running a 4-4-2 to start?
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 9:09 PM EDT reply actions
Earthquakes lineup
442, right to left:
Busch; Hernandez, Burling, Opara, Corrales; Beitashour, McDonald, Cronin, Convey; Wondolowski, Johnson
by ChestRockwell on Jul 3, 2025 9:42 PM EDT reply actions
Quakes bench
Cannon, Leitch, Ring, Robles, Jasseh, Alvarez, Glen
by ChestRockwell on Jul 3, 2025 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Watching the end of the Columbus-Chicago game. After watching the World Cup with ESPN’s great British play-by-play crew, this FSC guy is like a play-by-play vuvuzela.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 9:47 PM EDT reply actions
Random unrelated question before the game starts: Does anyone know how MLS will be splitting the conferences when Vancouver/Portland (and eventually Montreal) join? I’m in favor of getting rid of conferences altogether, and just playing a home-and-home with every other team in the league; the top 8 teams would make the playoffs regardless of geography.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 9:54 PM EDT reply actions
Anyone have a good stream? I’ve got one, but it’s pretty crappy.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:09 PM EDT reply actions
So does San Jose play in a carnival fairground?
First time seeing their stadium.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:10 PM EDT reply actions
I think it’s on a college campus, though I think I saw something about funding for a SSS being approved earlier this year.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I seem to remember playing at a college stadium in their earlier years
Haven’t seen them play at home since they came back into the league.
Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Jul 3, 2025 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
The out-of-bounds space here is so narrow.
I still haven’t gotten used to it.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
That would make sense.
This looks suspiciously similar to what my high school football stadium looked like, except they have stands in one of the end zones.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Burch
Did he reinjure himself in the ES friendly? I thought he was close to coming back based on that (and little else).
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 10:14 PM EDT reply actions
It's been a while
since I’ve been happy about a goal being called off.
Detroit4Lyfe
by handsomerob1 on Jul 3, 2025 10:15 PM EDT reply actions
Feels a little weird, huh?
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
So: SJ’s new thirds or Seattle’s “electric yellow” third kits?
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:16 PM EDT reply actions
Well, can't say San Jose didn't deserve that given the run of play.
DC’s had one, maybe 1.5 decent possessions in the first 15 minutes?
I’m going to blame that goal on Morsink. Was he on the field? No. But he’s at fault anyway.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:24 PM EDT reply actions
I like the way you think, on all counts.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
The frustrating thing is San Jose hasn't played well.
DC looks generally jet-lagged at the moment, though. San Jose isn’t that much better than DC is, but DC’s organization is a mess so far. San Jose at least, well, knows what they’re trying to do.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
The winless streak in SJ doesn’t help, nor did the crap effort Wednesday.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Drinking game time!
Take a (small) drink every time DC completely mufs a first touch directly ont San Jose’s feet. Two drinks if it directly leads to a San Jose attack.
note: you would’ve died 10 minutes ago had you did this.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:29 PM EDT reply actions
It’s nice to see someone else’s guy get injured for once.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:31 PM EDT reply actions
I blame Tino for wearing shoes that match SJ’s new kits.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:38 PM EDT reply actions
So why did it take 38 minutes to do anything on Najar's side again?
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:45 PM EDT reply actions
Hey look, the team realized they’re playing a soccer game!
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m just glad they’re finally throwing some shots on the keeper whose face is in the sun.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Great, now I'm araid of the second half.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
As a Tottenham supporter, I’m quite jealous of SJ’s partnership with them.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:49 PM EDT reply actions
Honest question: is anyone even thinking before lofting blind cross-pitch passes?
There have been a few of them that were a bit …well, naive. I have no clue what they were trying to accomplish.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 10:54 PM EDT reply actions
Considering how we played in the first half, we’re lucky to go into halftime only down by 1. Let’s turn it around in the second.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 10:57 PM EDT reply actions
SJ should replace their unremarkable white away kits with the blue ones. I wish more MLS teams had non-white away jerseys.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
CSN is opening up very optimistic.
Apparently they forgot that San Jose scored.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 11:12 PM EDT reply actions
Moreno on for Cristman. Seems like a good decision so far.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 11:14 PM EDT reply actions
Well, that throw-in wasn't sloppy or anything.
Nope, not a complete mess.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 11:17 PM EDT reply actions
The boy wonder! Hope this is a momentum shift. Moreno has made immediate impact on the team.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 11:21 PM EDT reply actions
Holy moses.
That was quite well done; credit to …well, all around, really. I thought that was hosed before Najar just came flying in on that. I’ll take it.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 11:21 PM EDT reply actions
All I’ve got is Twitter people raving over it (until the post-game replay), phuq me.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Never mind; props to the DCU web team for getting it up already. Damn that was nice.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you need a stream? It’s not great, but it’s something.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh hey, we're after the 60th minute.
Know how I know? DC’s starting to make a hash of this game. This needs to get under control now before DC gives up a trash goal.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
by Chris Pendley on Jul 3, 2025 11:30 PM EDT reply actions
I’m streaming this game online with SJ commentators. They’re talking about the Jabulani nonstop, as if MLS hasn’t been using it all season.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 3, 2025 11:35 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yay, 1 point!
Guessing the Khumalo sub is reflective of that.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 3, 2025 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
Well considering I thought they wouldn’t make it out of SJ with a point, I’ll take it.
Look at this signature line. Notice the lack of spelling errors and self-whoring?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 4, 2025 12:00 AM EDT reply actions
Sigh. 3 points would’ve been nice, but I’ll take the 1.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Jul 4, 2025 12:00 AM EDT reply actions
Some things I saw
Troy Perkins wasn’t controlling shit in his area until the 75th-80th minute. There were some serious communication issues with the backline that led to some pretty head shaking gaffes.
Najar’s goal - wow! Came out of pretty much nowhere when all of a sudden the team decided to play nice soccer for a change.
Why did Onalfo wait til the 90th minute to use his last two subs. For about the last 15, everyone on the field looked gassed, but United looked dangerous enough that they might have taken all three points with a last push.
Speaking of, Jaime got the ball on the left and was wide open… and just dithered. His first touch was bad and the ball got caught under him. He was still in a good position to advance on goal and crack a shot, but he held it up. Then he lost the ball and made a late challenge that should have earned him a yellow. The man’s a legend, but he really, REALLY needs to call it a career.
Chris Pontius is really just a terrible header of balls, isn’t he?
One point. I’ll take it, especially since I was predicting a loss. I’m really looking forward to what Hernandez and Branko might bring to this team. It’s exciting - as long as I don’t think of the backline.
by Brendanukkah on Jul 4, 2025 12:27 AM EDT reply actions
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