'Quakes Squeak by Crew, 4-3
Published on May 18, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes outlasted the visiting Columbus Crew in a wild game Saturday night at Spartan Stadium, winning 4-3. San Jose started the scoring on the night, but the Crew evened up the score twice before the `Quakes could finally pull ahead in the closing minutes of the match. San Jose's Landon Donovan put home the winning goal in the 87th minute of play, as well as dished out an assist for forward Brian Ching.
Brian Mullan opened the scoring in the first half, finding the back of the net for San Jose in the 30th minute of play. Mullan notched his second goal of the season when he caught Columbus goalkeeper Jon Busch off balance, swinging the ball in across the face of the goal. What looked to be a cross for the far post run turned into a goal, landing just inside the post for a 1-0 lead.
The Crew got right back into the match in the 38th minute, when Brian McBride successfully converted a penalty kick. Frankie Hejduk sent the ball into the penalty area to start the play, where Ross Paule's flashing header found McBride at the back post. San Jose defender Craig Waibel was whistled for a foul on McBride, sending the crew forward to the spot. McBride sent the ball to `keeper Pat Onstad's left side, hitting the back of the net to even the score at 1-1.
The Earthquakes regained the lead early in the second half with a Brian Ching goal in the 49th minute. On a Columbus throw-in, San Jose defender Jeff Agoos won the header over McBride, nodding the ball to Landon Donovan. Donovan laid a pass behind the Crew defense for Ching, who struck a low one-time shot underneath an onrushing Busch.
Once again, the Crew answered to even up the score. Defender Brian Dunseth received a Crew corner kick inside the penalty area, collecting the ball in the middle of a frantic scrum. Dunseth picked out Jeff Cunningham at the near post and delivered a pass to the lurking forward, who nodded it past Onstad for his third tally of the season.
Agoos gave San Jose yet another lead in the 67th minute, finding the upper left hand corner from 25 yards out with a well-placed free kick. Agoos bent the ball around the Crew defense, placing the ball out of Busch's reach to make the game 3-2.
The `Quakes broke the pattern of scoring late in the game with Landon Donovan's insurance goal in the 87th minute. Midfielder Manny Lagos sprang Donovan down the left flank, sending the ball into space behind the Crew defense. Passing his defender, Donovan took a sharp-angled shot from the end line, beating Busch to the right corner.
The Crew got a final goal in the closing minutes of play, Hejduk picked out Paule, who beat Onstad to make the score 4-3. In the end, however, the gap proved to be too wide for the Crew to force the game into overtime.
The loss sees Columbus (3-2-2, 11 points) slip out of the lead in the Eastern Conference, supplanted by the MetroStars (12 points). The Crew next face the New England Revolution (3-2-2, 11 points) at Crew Stadium on Saturday, May 24th.
San Jose (4-0-2) remains undefeated on the season, and currently leads all MLS teams with 14 points. The Earthquakes have an off week coming up, next coming into action on Saturday, May 31st when they host the Chicago Fire live on ESPN2 (4:00 pm ET).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match - Landon Donovan [San Jose]
Major League Soccer Stories from May 18, 2003
- Rapids Fall to Metros at Home - Colorado Rapids
- 'Quakes Squeak by Crew, 4-3 - MLS
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