Winning start

Earthquakes beat Olimpia in FC Champions Cup

MIAMI (AP) -- Richard Mulrooney's goal in the 73rd minute gave the San Jose Earthquakes a 1-0 victory Wednesday over Olimpia of Honduras in an opening round match of the FC Champions Cup.

Mulrooney received a crossing pass from Manny Lagos, spotted the ball from 27 meters (30 yards) and blasted a shot that beat Olimpia goalkeeper Doris Salatiel inside the right post.

Prior to Mulrooney's goal, the Earthquakes withstood an Olimpia scoring opportunity when reserve forward Denilson de Oliveira, who entered the match at the 67th minute, dribbled past the San Jose defense and avoided a charging Cannon.

His open shot on goal from 16 meters (18 yards) went off the right post with 21 minutes remaining in the match.

De Oliveira also missed an open shot on goal in stoppage time in Olimpia's last attempt at tying the match.

Three minutes into the second half, Olimpia seemed ready to break the scoreless deadlock when Narciso Fernandez sprinted unmarked from the left wing deep toward the San Jose goal area.

But Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon cut Fernandez's angle and made a leg save off a 14 meter (15-yard) shot to deny Olimpia's first serious scoring threat of the match.

The Earthquakes' Jeff Agoos had the best scoring chance of the first half when his shot inside the penalty box was stopped by a diving deflection from Olimpia goalkeeper Doris Salatier.

San Jose and Olimpia will play the second match of a home and home set Saturday night in Sacramento. Olimpia opted to play its "home" game in Miami because of the city's growing Honduran population.

A victory or tie advances reigning MLS Cup champion San Jose to the quarterfinals in August against the winner of the home and home series between Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago or Pachuca of Mexico.

The 16-team tournament consists of four MLS clubs and 12 first division squads from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

 

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