Khari makes instant impact
Published:Tuesday | August 17, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Jamaica's Khari Stephenson made an impressive start for the San Jose Earthquakes on his debut in the United States Major League Soccer (MLS) competition, providing an assist that led them to a 1-0 win over Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.
The victory was the Quakes' first home win since May 8.
According to a report carried on the club's website Stephenson, brought in by the Quakes last week from Norway's Aalesunds FK, made an instant impact when he delivered a perfectly chipped pass from 35 yards to the foot of Chris Wondolowski, who volleyed the ball home for his team-high seventh goal, the only score in San Jose's 1-0 win against Kansas City.
Stephenson was at the centre of the most dangerous action for the Quakes, whose offence was measurably improved after being shut out in back-to-back losses that dropped them out of play-off position for the first time since mid April.
Unbeaten streak
The victory by Quakes also ended Kansas City's four-game unbeaten streak in the competition.
The 29-year-old Stephenson was making his return to the MLS after a period of five years, having played professionally in Europe after leaving the Kansas City Wizards in 2005.
The midfielder, who has 31 caps with Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, is a product of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association age-group development programme, having represented Real Mona Football Club and national youth teams at all age levels.