News
JUE 19.05.2016
Alberto de la Bella breaks 2015/16 duck
The full-back notched his first goal of the campaign in the Basque side's LaLiga World opener. De la Bella made 15 appearances in the Liga BBVA this term, but has had to wait until the post-season to etch his name on the scoresheet. He did so in the 10th minute, opening the scoring in his team's 2-1 loss at the Avaya Stadium.
15,697-strong crowd
A total of 15,697 fans turned out at the 18,000-seater Avaya Stadium, meaning the home of the San Jose Earthquakes was at 87% capacity for the first match on Real Sociedad's LaLiga World roadshow. The arrival of a LaLiga team in San Jose was a big draw and the crowd really got into the action, while the players undoubtedly enjoyed the great atmosphere the supporters created.
Six B-team starlets involved
La Real's faith in youth paid off over the course of the Liga BBVA campaign and it is in evidence again on their LaLiga World tour. Some eight Real Sociedad B players have made the journey to the United States, and six of them – Alvaro Odriozola, Jon Bautista, Srdan Babic, Ander Bardaji, Andoni Ugarte and Igor Zubeldia – got some game time against the Earthquakes.
Four goalkeepers in one match
Geronimo Rulli, Bardaji, Bryan Meredith and Andrew Tarbell were all entrusted with keeping goal throughout the contest. It is far from commonplace to see four different goalkeepers take to the pitch in the same game, but both Real Sociedad coach Eusebio Sacristan and his counterpart at the San Jose Earthquakes, John Doyle, decided to switch shotstoppers at half-time. All four put in impressive displays which included some eye-catching saves.
11 different nationalities in action
The match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Sociedad was a real international affair, with 11 different countries represented. The predominant nationalities for each side, La Real's 14 Spaniards and their opponents' 10 Americans, were joined by Argentines Rulli and Matias Perez Garcia, Jamaicans Simon Dawkins and Shaun Francis, Mexican striker Carlos Vela and Serbian defender Babic, to name but a few. LaLiga World definitely had more of an international flavour than ever at the Avaya Stadium.
Spain: Odriozola, Mikel Gonzalez, Markel Bergara, Esteban Granero; Jon Bautista, Xabier Prieto, Ruben Pardo, David Zurutuza; Alberto de la Bella, Ander Bardaji, Andoni Ugarte, Yuri Berchiche, Asier Illarramendi, Igor Zubeldia
Mexico: Carlos Vela
Serbia: Srdan Babic
Argentina: Geronimo Rulli and Matias Perez Garcia
United States: Bryan Meredith, Andrew Tarbell, Kofi Sarkodie, Shea Salinas, Fatai Alashe, Tommy Thompson, Marvell Wynne, Chris Wondolowski, Adam Jahn, Chad Barrett
England: Jordan Stewart
Jamaica: Simon Dawkins and Shaun Francis
Panama: Alberto Quintero and Anibal Godoy
Honduras: Victor Bernardez
Trinidad and Tobago: Cordell Cato
Brazil: Matheus Silva
© LALIGA - 2016