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'Quakes hope to end steak vs. Columbus

May 13, 2011 - 9:09 PM Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The San Jose Earthquakes will aim to climb out of the Western Conference basement when they host the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer action at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday.

The 'Quakes will be searching for their first win since a 2-0 result on March 26 at FC Dallas.

The team is coming off a 1-1 draw at Vancouver on Wednesday thanks to a 91st minute Davide Chiumiento equalizer that forced the teams to share the points.

"[I'm] very disappointed we didn't come away with three points tonight," 'Quakes head coach Frank Yallop said after the game. "I told the guys in there that in a game like that, you've just to go put the second one in. I think we had chances do that. ... I think to get that second one would've sealed the match. But we let it slip away. It's disappointing."

Despite the disappointing result, the 'Quakes know they must be put it in the rearview mirror and be ready for Columbus on Saturday.

"The thing about it, each game you go into, you can win and you can lose," Yallop said. "You have to be positive. [In Vancouver] we could've had three points, but we didn't get them so we can't harp on it now. We've just got to get ready for our next game."

The Crew are on a currently on a seven game unbeaten run, with their only loss of the season being their season opener at D.C. United on March 19. The team's most recent result was a 1-1 draw vs. Seattle last weekend.

"We started the game pretty well. We had good balance," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "The second half it was a different game. We pushed for the goal. We got one and almost had another one. We didn't get lucky."

Still, if the team holds true to it's current pattern - alternating draws and wins since the season-opening loss - it is in line for a win at San Jose on Saturday.

The crew will have to find a way to get it done without midfielder Danny O'Rourke, defender Josh Williams and forward Santiago Prim, while defender Shaun Francis is questionable, all with injuries.

San Jose will be without midfielders Simon Dawkins and Andre Luiz and defender Tim Ward because of injury knocks.