Shrader's Spin: Tie with Galaxy is Bittersweet

The taste of a tie in Tinsel Town got a little sweeter in the hours after the Quakes 2-2 game in the Home Depot Center. When Landon Donovan scored in the 90th minute Thursday night, the Galaxy nabbed a point and took two out of the pockets of the Quakes, who twice had leads they couldn’t hold.

But, getting a point from the Galaxy isn’t such a bad thing, said most of the players afterward. Kinda. Sorta.

“It’s always nice to get a point from such a quality side,” said Brandon McDonald, who scored the goal that put the Quakes up 2-1. But… ”it’s always a punch in the gut when you’re up 2-1 and they score a goal late.”

Bobby Convey scored the other goal, a 2nd-minute shot that helped set the tone for this one. “Yes, I have mixed emotions,” he said of the draw, and getting a point in a tough venue. “It just shows how competitive we are this year. It’s a lot different than last year.”

How different than last year? One win and eight points on the road in 2009. So far in 2010: Three wins and 12 points away from home.

With three of the next four at home, it’s time for the Quakes to pick up the pace in Buck Shaw where they are just 3-2-2 this season.

FINALLY….AN ALL-STAR
Convey scored on the same day he got the call from the league office that he would be headed to the All-Star Game next week, replacing injured Jonathan Bornstein.

It's the first time the Quakes will be represented since their return to MLS in 2008.

He says he was mostly disappointed that the team had not received some recognition, “I don’t need someone else to tell me I’m an All-Star.”

“I feel like I play how I play and people can see what I do and make their own conclusion,” Convey said. “I try to do as well as I can and work as hard as I can. It’s nice to be mentioned as an All-Star and with the best players in the league.”

Convey has been among the most consistent players on this team this year. I think most of the players would throw Ramiro Corrales into that conversation as well.

The MLS All-Stars play Manchester United July 28 in Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

FUN FACTS TO KNOW AND TELL
Brandon McDonald has three career MLS goals, and all of them have been scored at the Home Depot Center. He scored once as a member of the Galaxy and scored the others in LA as an Earthquake, against Chivas USA in 2009 and the Thursday night goal against the Galaxy.