Earthquakes count on Argentine defender against Sporting KC

SAN JOSE -- Little in Andres Imperiale's vagabond career suggested he would be one of the Earthquakes' most important offseason signings.

But the Argentine defender has been a lifesaver as he prepares to make his sixth consecutive start Sunday against Sporting Kansas City in a 12:30 p.m. kickoff at Avaya Stadium for a nationally televised game on ESPN.Imperiale, 29, has made a seamless transition to the central defense since star Clarence Goodson suffered a back injury in the second week of the Major League Soccer season."When Clarence went down we had every confidence he would do well," coach Dominic Kinnear said.