With just a handful of games left in the regular season, the Earthquakes have their work cut out for them to sneak into the MLS playoffs in 2013, but a late-season surge has the two-time champions dreaming big. Don’t miss the action as goal-scoring maven Chris Wondolowski attempts to power the Quakes into the post-season. A Brief History One of Major League Soccer’s original 10 teams, the San Jose Earthquakes (originally known as the San Jose Clash) had the privilege of hosting MLS’s inaugural game at Spartan Stadium on April 6, 1996. The team beat D.C. United 1-0 that day, setting a winning standard that they have fought hard to maintain ever since. The Earthquakes are two-time winners of the MLS Cup (2001 and 2003), two-time winners of the Supporters’ Shield (2005 and 2012) awarded annually to the team with the best record in the MLS, and three-time winners of the MLS Western Conference. In addition to these league-wide accomplishments, the Earthquakes are five-time winners of the California Clásico, the heated rivalry between the Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The San Jose-based professional soccer franchise now known as the Earthquakes dates back to 1974 when the original incarnation of the team played in the North American Soccer League and then the Western Soccer Alliance. The 2013 San Jose Earthquakes In a sensational regular season in 2012, the Earthquakes won the Supporters’ Shield (best overall record) before falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the playoffs in one of the most shocking turnarounds MLS history. Despite that disappointment the Earthquakes entered 2013 with sky-high expectations. But after a slow start to the season, former MLS Coach of the Year Frank Yallop, dealing with injuries and a new tactical alignment, was removed from his post in favor of longtime assistant Mark Watson on an interim basis. Since that mid-season shake-up, the San Jose Earthquakes have been on a tear. They ripped off three consecutive victories and are unbeaten at home heading into the stretch run. With two-time Golden Boot winner Wondolowski and speed demon Shea Salinas leading the way, the Quakes are going all out for a playoff berth. Save on San Jose Earthquakes Tickets While they currently play at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University, the team broke ground on a new stadium on October 21, 2012, setting a Guinness World Record for most people taking part in a ground breaking ceremony when 6,256 people dug into the ground simultaneously. The new, as yet unnamed stadium will seat 18,000 and is slated to be open in time for the 2014 season. Just in case their record-setting ground-breaking ceremony didn’t tip you off, San Jose fans truly love their soccer team. Pick up some discounted San Jose Earthquake tickets at ScoreBig.com to find out why.