Quakes score thrilling late equalizer on College Night

Photo by Jovanni Arroyo-Camberos

The San Jose Earthquakes(2-2-2) are no stranger to late goals and in this game they needed some more of that magic as they drew 1-1 against FC Dallas (3-0-2) on Friday night.

The Quakes celebrated a late equalizer in front of a crowd comprised of fans and students from colleges around the Bay Area for College Night.

“I thought we played some good stuff [in the] first 30-35 minutes” Said San Jose Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear. “I thought we looked pretty sharp moving the ball well, second half we came out and I thought we looked a little lackadaisical and they were getting chances because of that.”  

The Earthquakes began the game with most of the possession. San Jose had several opportunities to get the ball into the back of the net but could not capitalize on their chances.

In the 18th minute FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez denied the Earthquakes the first goal of the match after forward Chris Wondolowski struck a left footed shot toward the left post.

After enjoying much of the ball the tides quickly turned in the middle of the first half for the Earthquakes.

FC Dallas forward Cristian Colman almost broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. Colman had an opportunity to give Dallas the lead with a missed shot off the near post with an open goal waiting to receive the ball.

After much relief for the Quakes fans, all remained tied at 0-0 entering halftime.

The San Jose Earthquakes conceded a goal in the 78th minute of the match. Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta found the back of the net to put them up 1-0 over the Earthquakes.   

All seemed lost in stoppage time with the Earthquakes down 1-0 in the 94th and final minute of the game, up until a long ball found its way into the FC Dallas goal box and into the left foot of Quakes forward Jahmir Hyka and into the net.

“I’m happy for the team that we drawed this game because I didn’t believe we deserved to lose at the end,” Hyka said.  

San Jose scored a late goal to split the points between both sides. The Earthquakes now sit in 5th place in the Western Conference with eight points.

Despite the team not able to get a win against a top team in the western conference, Quakes players such as Nick Lima and Chris Wondolowski were still able to enjoy the support from students who attended College Night.

“It’s huge, there are so many colleges and the communities here are so important,” Wondolowski said. “It’s great to have that connection and that fan base and I loved every second I had in college.”  

Lima, who is a Cal graduate said he enjoyed seeing some familiar colors in the stands.

“I saw a few Cal fans out there and it means a lot,” Lima Said.  “I love the support from my alma mater and I wish I could have said hi to more Cal fans that came out and thank them and it did put a smile on my face to see the support.”