13 JULY 2007 - On a day which is supposed to be unlucky, and on possibly the most important day for American soccer in over 20 years - the day David Beckham officially joined Los Angeles Galaxy - the San Fernando Quakes came within touching distance of a little piece of history of their own: qualification for the post-season for the first time in the franchise’s short history. The Quakes overcame the visiting Southern California Seahorses with a 3-1 final scoreline, and in doing so find themselves within a whisker of the playoffs.

Quakes head coach Juan Florez, sensing the importance of the game, started the match with his strongest possible eleven: Kevin Guppy in goal; Derek Hanks, Robert Pate, Chad Borak and Mike Zaher across the back; playmakers Mat Davis, Daniel Paladini and Dylan Leslie in the center of midfield; Sean Franklin and Sung Kim rampaging down the flanks; and Ryan Shaw as the target man up front. The attacking 4-5-1 formation, which had served the team so well all season, was employed once more. Nothing else than a victory would suffice. The Quakes simply had to win. HAD to win.

The Seahorses, divisional champions and conference semi finalists in 2006, came into the game suffering one of the worst campaigns in the team’s six year history, and were determined to act as spoilers. The Seahorses had already beaten fellow playoff candidates Ventura in their last game. As the game kicked off, in front of almost 450 expectant spectators - the largest home crowd of the year - the Quakes looked to dominate the game early. The early exchanges were tense, with both teams looking a little nervous in terms of their ball control and passing game. Then, 19 minutes into the first half, and against the run of play, disaster for the Quakes: the Seahorses scored. a clever passing move involving Seahorses midfielders Conan Hawkins and JT Searles eventually found wing-back Justin Farnsworth on the overlap and in space on the right hand side of the Quakes 18-yard box. Turning defender Mike Zaher, Farnsworth let out a speculative shot, which somehow snuck past Kevin Guppy’s outstretched left hand and into the net. 1-0 Seahorses.

With hindsight, this was possibly the best thing that could have happened to the Quakes - it woke them up. They now HAD to score if the playoff dream was to be kept alive, and home goals were at a premium. Almost immediately, the Quakes picked up the pace and piled on the pressure, lifted by Sean Franklin’s scintillating run down the right wing. Franklin didn’t score, but his heart and determination seemed to give the Quakes a second wind. Twelve minutes later, the Quakes were level. Another move down the right involving Sean Franklin and Dylan Leslie eventually resulted in Daniel Paladini with the ball at his feet. Turning, and finding his path to goal blocked by Seahorses defenders, he played a square ball across the penalty area to Sung Kim, who was standing unmarked, around 25 yards out. Without missing a beat, Kim unleashed a piledriver which sailed up and past the outstretched hand of Seahorses ’keeper Greg Larson, and into the back of the net. It was, by a long way, the Quakes goal of the season.

The Quakes, lifted by Kim’s thunderbolt, were now in the ascendancy and on the attack. It was 2-1 just three minutes later. Ryan Shaw, whose speed and power had seen him score nine goals already this year, found himself running at goal on the end of a Mat Davis through-ball, having beaten the Seahorses offside trap. Riding the despairing last-ditch tackle of Seahorses’ Romanian defender Marius Rus, Shaw rounded Seahorses keeper Larson, and calmly slotted the ball home for his tenth goal of the season, and his 18th in total in a Quakes shirt.

In many ways, a 2-1 scoreline is the most dangerous lead to have, if any lead can be considered dangerous. Do you sit back and protect your one goal lead, or attack, looking for that possibly decisive third goal, knowing that exposure at the back could lead to an opponent equalizing? Florez, ever the advocate of positive football, continued the attack. On several occasions, the Quakes enjoyed tantalizing half chances, and glimpses at goal, and while the defensive quarter were occasionally left a little vulnerable by Seahorses counter-attacks, Robert Pate and Derek Hanks continually stepped up to the mark to keep Guppy’s goal safe. The first half ended with the Quakes 2-1 ahead. So far, so good.

Things got even better three minutes into the second half, when the Quakes scored their third, decisive goal. Sung Kim had the honor of holding the Quakes "goal of the season" for a mere seventeen minutes, because the Quakes third goal was an absolute gem: Derek Hanks, picking the ball up in midfield, played a strong, fast forward pass into the heart of the Seahorses back line. The ball reached Mat Davis first, but instead of controlling it and turning to face the play, he executed a textbook reverse dummy over the ball and let it run on to Dylan Leslie; Leslie, sensing Daniel Paladini in space a couple of feet behind him, also dummied the ball. These two moments of sublime skill and positional awareness completely bamboozled the Seahorses defense, who were left flat-footed and facing the wrong way. Paladini, now with the ball at his feet and in yards of space, send the advancing Larson sprawling in the wrong direction, calmly rounded the keeper, and passed the ball into the back of the net. 3-1, goal of the season, and the Quakes were now in the comfort zone.

Over the course of the next 20 minutes, coach Florez began to make changes to his team, strengthening the defense, replacing tired legs, tightening up the midfield. Josh Leon, Kyle Nakazawa, Oscar Sims, Alex Christensen, Patricio Gutierrez and Ryan Callahan all came off the bench as the game progressed, and as each substituted Quakes player departed the field, he was given a rousing reception by the increasingly buoyant crowd. The Quakes continued to press as the clock ticked down, peppering the Seahorses goal with shots, forcing Larson to make at least three saves on goal-bound attempts. Ryan Shaw finished his game with five shots at goal, while Paladini and Franklin registered two each, and even Zaher and Leslie got in on the act.

At the other end, only Seahorses striker Chris Leiva managed to give Kevin Guppy any real problems, forcing him to make a fine diving save, and even going to far as to unleash a 35-yard bullet which smacked against the top of the Quakes crossbar, but thankfully fell over and away from a grateful Guppy’s goal.

At the final whistle, the atmosphere was a mixture of satisfaction at a mission accomplished, but slight nervousness at the fact that, although the playoff finish line was within sight, they still have to rely on other results going their way. The crowd cheered, the players applauded their fans, and as the faithful 500 gradually trickled away into the Granada Hills dusk, the attention turned to our competitors.

So, now, the scenario is this: if Ventura lose either of their final two games (against Southern California and Los Angeles), the Quakes are in the playoffs. Similarly, if Fresno lose or tie either of their final two games (against Bakersfield or San Francisco), the Quakes are in the playoffs. If both Ventura and Fresno win all their remaining games, then the Quakes will finish third, and Ventura and Fresno will go to the playoffs. It’s a simple as that. If either of the teams slip up, we’re there.

So that’s it. The regular season is over for the San Fernando Valley Quakes for 2007, and we’ve indisputably played much better in our second year than in our first. Now, all eyes are trained on Chukchansi Park for the Fresno-Bakersfield game… remember, if Fresno don’t win, the Quakes are in… Watch this space!

Match report by Jon Broxton