MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Drop Heartbreaker to Deportivo Toluca on Penalty Kicks in CONCACAF Champions League Quar

Published on March 20, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


TOLUCA, Mexico - The San Jose Earthquakes pushed Deportivo Toluca FC to the limit at Estadio Nemesio Diez Wednesday night, but fell 5-4 on penalty kicks, following 120 minutes in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Ty Harden put the Quakes up 1-0 early the second half to take the lead 2-1 on aggregate in the series. But Isaac Brizuela struck back for Toluca to send the game to overtime. After 30 minutes of scoreless overtime, including a called back Quakes' goal, Toluca edged San Jose in penalties to advance to the semifinals.

In the penalty kick shootout, both goalkeepers came up with saves on the first shooters. The next four players for each team all scored to make it 4-4. In the sixth round, Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch got a hand on Wilson Tiago's shot, but it just bounced in. The Quakes final attempt rang off the crossbar.

Early in the match, Busch made a big save in the 23rd minute. Erbin Trejo made a nice move at the edge of the box to get free to Busch's left. He then blasted a shot to the near post, but Busch was there to push it wide.

Quakes forward Billy Schuler forced Toluca goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera into a saveafter a nice exchange in midfield between Atiba Harris and Shea Salinas. After playing a give-and-go with Harris, Salinas slid a ball to Schuler at the top of the box. However, Schuler's one-time effort was gathered in by Talavera.

Busch made a leaping save on Juan Manuel Salgueiro with about 10 minutes to go in the first half. After faking a shot and maneuvering around a defender, Salguiero hit a shot from 25 yards out that Busch tipped over the bar.

Just 10 minutes after the break, both teams had chances to break the deadlock. First, Cronin tried his luck from distance, but it ended up right in the arms of Talavera. At the other end, Edgar Benitez got free for a header, but could not convert.

Moments later on a set piece, Harden put the Quakes up 1-0 with a diving header. Salinas whipped a free kick into the box and Harden beat his defender and headed one past Talavera to give San Jose a 2-1 lead on aggregate. The goal was Harden's first with the Earthquakes.

Brizuela netted the equalizer with a long-range shot in the 69th minute. Just moments after Cordell Cato saved a goal with a clearance on the line, the ball came out to Brizuela. He made no mistake, ripping a shot to the upper left corner for a 1-1 tie in the game.

Cronin played the hero in the dying minutes of the match off a Toluca corner kick. An outswinging corner was redirected past Busch and appeared earmarked for the back of the net. Cronin retreated and jumped to head it away, keeping the match tied.

Alan Gordon, who entered as a late sub, thought he had scored the go-ahead goal six minutes into overtime, but his finish off a rebound was called back for offsides. Chris Wondolowski received a pass from Cato and fired a left-footed shot that was spilled by Alfredo Talavera. Gordon pounced on the rebound and finished but the linesman had his flag up.

Busch saved a powerful blast from Pablo Velazquez just moments later. Toluca broke well and Velazquez found himself alone at the edge of the Quakes box. He hit a left-footer that Busch punched away for a corner.

The Quakes goalkeeper came to the rescue again with two minutes left in the extra session. Tiago found some space on a corner kick and headed one for the roof of the net, but Busch leapt and tipped the ball off the bar and it bounced down before being cleared away by the Quakes defense.

The Earthquakes continue their road trip this weekend with a match against defending MLS Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City. The game kicks off from Sporting Park on Saturday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. PT and will air live on Comcast SportsNet Plus, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 20, 2014


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