Ching hands Quakes win over Metros, 3:1
June 13, 2004
Brian Ching handled the ball - twice - in scoring the game-winning goal as the Metros lost for the second straight week, falling to San Jose 3:1. While the team was without many of its players, they put up a valiant effort, only thwarted by the apparent blindness of the officiating crew. Jeff Parke scored the lone goal for the Metros, his first as a professional.
With seven players absent with their national teams or with injuries, wholesales changes had to be made to the starting lineup. Zach Wells and Gilberto Flores made their first Metro appearances, and Kenny Arena played for the first time this year as well. Mike Magee returned to the starting lineup to partner old cohort John Wolyniec, who captained the team.
San Jose struck in the 27th minute off a free kick. With Richard Mulrooney and Cowhead Agoos on the ball, the latter held it for the former, the Metro wall failing to move forward. The bovinesque Quake defender sent the ball into the upper right corner, with Wells not being able to react (but not many could have in that situation).
The Metros tied the game in the 59th minute, after a Cowhead foul at the edge of the box. Mark Lisi, who otherwise had a horrible game, took a free kick that Quake goalie Jon Conway failed to hold. The ball then bounced off Cowhead into the crossbar, and fell to Parke, who headed it in to briefly give the Metros some hope.
But this time, they were undone by the referees. After Mulrooney sent the ball into the box in the 79th minute, Ching first handled it to gain possession, then knocked it down with his hand into the ground, and then with his foot -- into the net. The Metro defenders screamed for infraction, but the yells fell on deaf ears as San Jose regained the lead.
In the 89th, Brian Mullan made it academic with the Quakes' third as the Metro defense resigned to people-watching. Oh well. They weren't supposed to win this one anyway. However, chalk this one to the refs, not the Quakes.
Pablo Brenes became the third Metro to make his debut in this game, coming on as a late sub.
Lineup: Wells, Leitch, Arena, Parke, Clark, Lisi, Gaven, Vaca, Flores, Magee, Wolyniec. Subs: Regan, Brenes.
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