It’s taken a few months, but the tension between the San Jose Earthquakes and its Houston spin-off is really starting to heat up, writes Ann Killion. Saturday’s game at Buck Shaw Stadium showed that “what was once a lovefest is verging on a blood feud. And a good soccer rivalry.”
“Most of the Houston team was ripped out of San Jose three years ago,” she says. “Much of the Earthquakes team is emotionally connected to the Dynamo.” But in contrast to the same fixture earlier in the season, “the Cain-and-Abel game was physical and nasty, with yellow cards, body blows and a red card that put Houston a man down for the final five minutes.”
“We’re the ones who put two stars on their jersey,” proclaimed Houston striker Brian Ching, who came after scoring his side’s equalizer in the 1-1 game pointedly gestured at the club’s crest on his jersey. “I told them to show some respect.”
“This time friendship was definitely pushed aside,” said Ching’s coach, Dominic Kinnear, also a close friend of his Quakes’ counterpart Frank Yallop. “There were handshakes instead of hugs.” Yallop noted: “Every play was a fight. This was a good example that we can do it [compete in MLS].” Compared with his previous job in L.A., “I’m enjoying it, the vibe is good. I feel way more comfortable here, building a team you can be proud of.”