Francisco Calvo (80) of the San Jose Earthquakes scored two goals in the final two minutes at Pay Pal Park in San Jose for the win over the Columbus Crew on Sat Mar 5, 2022 (photo by San Jose Earthquakes)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — Francisco Calvo has only played two games for the San Jose Earthquakes but has already made an immediate impact.
Down by two goals late in the second half and down a man, Calvo scored two goals off two separate headers in the final 10 minutes of the match to earn a 3-3 draw for San Jose over the Colombus Crew on Saturday afternoon at Pay Pal Park.
San Jose (0-1-1) drew first blood early thanks to Paul Marie who drew a penalty kick for San Jose in the fifth minute after Milos Degenek fouled him inside the box.
After video review Christian Espinoza made a slight hesitation before beating Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room with a low show to the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.
The Quakes were on the wrong end of a controversial call in the 33rd minute. Jamiro Monteiro battled for a loose ball with Darlington Nagbe when both collided with one another. Referee Guido Gonzales Jr. initially issued a yellow card to Monteiro.
After video review, the call was changed to a red card an automatic ejection for Monteiro. They called swung momentum over to the Crew’s side.
Columbus (1-0-2) finally cashed in with San Jose being down a man in the 40th minute. Steven Moreira dribbled inside the box and crossed the ball over to Lucas Zelarayán who blasted a shot into the top right corner for his second goal of the season.
Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda decided to shake up the lineup to start the second half. In were Cade Cowell and Judson for Chofis and Eric Remedi to bring in more of an attacking presence.
Philadelphia gained its first lead in the 68th minute off a set piece. A corner kick resulted in Yaw Yeboah crossing the ball back into the middle where Gyasi Zardes one timed the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
The Union scored what appeared to be an insurance goal five minutes later off a free kick. Zelarayán recorded his brace when he was able to bend in his right footed shot past Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski in the 73rd minute.
San Jose cut the lead to one goal in the 84th minute. Ján Gregus centered a free kick from 25 yards out into the middle of box where Francisco Calvo was left unmarked and headed the ball past Room for his first goal as a member of the Earthquakes.
Calvo’s heroics came on the last play of the match thanks to a gaffe by Room that gave San Jose a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Once again it was Gregus who centered the ball into the middle of the box and Calvo headed the ball into the lower right corner for his brace.
Marcinkowski made four saves on seven shots. Room finished with one save on four shots.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with four corner kicks. Colombus had nine.
Nathan, who suffered a torn meniscus in last Saturday’s season opener vs. the New York Red Bulls. He had surgery on Monday and is expected to miss up to two months.
San Jose had their undefeated record vs. Columbus at PayPal Park extended to four matches (2-0-2). Additionally, the Earthquakes extended its unbeaten streak of eight straight home matches against Columbus (4-0-4) dating back to a 3-0 loss in August 2009, also snapped. The eight-game run is San Jose’s longest active home unbeaten run against any single opponent.
UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to Philadelphia to take on the Union on Saturday 3/12 at 4:30pm at Subaru Park.
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