Tag: Toronto FC

San Jose Earthquakes defender Marcos Lopez (27) battles for the ball with Toronto FC forward Deandre Kerr during the first half at BMO Field on Saturday Jul 9, 2022. (Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports)

by Marko Ukalovic

TORONTO — Jack Skahan was at the right place at the right time to rescue the San Jose Earthquakes off of life support.

Skahan, who came off the bench in the 83rd minute as a sub for Jan Gregus, scored the equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time to earn a point for San Jose in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday evening at BMO Field.

San Jose is unbeaten in three of its last four matches and continued its winless streak on the road this season (0-6-3). Toronto FC earned a point in four of its last 12 matches.

Seemingly left for dead at the start of stoppage time, a clearing attempt by
Ifunanyachi Achara hit off ‘Quakes captain Jackson Yueill that sprung Skahan down the right wing. Skahan rifled a shot into the lower left corner past Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg for his first goal of the season to allow San Jose to escape with a point north of the border.

‘Quakes head coach Alex Covelo needed to make one change to the starting 11 with midfielder Jamiro Monteiro was away on the birth of his child. Judson started in Monteiro’s place.

San Jose (4-7-8) drew first blood in the 26th minute off of a turnover. Benji Kikanovic centered a ball into the box where Jeremy Ebobisse got behind the defense and beat Westberg with a right footed shot to the left corner of the net for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Ebobisee, who tied for third in the MLS goals scored, snapped a three-match goal less draught.

Toronto FC (5-10-5) had a golden scoring chance to even the game in the 44th minute. Deandre Kerr’s attempt from 10 yard out was blocked away by ‘Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski. The rebound by Jonathan Osario was knocked out of bounds by a diving Marcos Lopez.

On the ensuing the corner kick, Kerr’s header hit the crossbar and went over the net.

Toronto FC controlled the play for most of the second half and broke through twice in a four-minute span.

In the 71st minute, Kerr received the ball from Osario just past midfield. San Jose’s defense allowed Kerr to dribble all the way up to the box before he beat Marcinkowski with a left footed shot for his third goal of the season.

Then four minutes later in the 75th minute, Kerr returned the favor as his centering pass hit off of Judson and onto the foot of Osario, who was all alone versus Marcinkowski, and he chipped the ball into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Marcinkowski finished the match with four saves on six shots on target to earn his eighth draw of the season. Westberg made one save on three shots for his fifth draw.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with three corner kicks. Toronto had seven.

San Jose is unbeaten in its last four meetings with Toronto (W1 D3). The Earthquakes are unbeaten in its last two matches against Toronto FC at BMO Field.

The ‘Quakes are one of three teams (Toronto, Colorado) without a road win in 2022 (D3 L6).

UP NEXT: San Jose concludes its two-game road trip in Los Angeles when they take on the Galaxy on Wednesday 7/13 at 7:00pm at Dignity Health Sports Park.

photo from centredaily.com: San Jose Earthquakes’ Guram Kashia (37) Toronto FC’s fouls Marky Delgado (8) during the second half of an MLS soccer game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020.

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The San Jose Earthquakes wanted to upgrade their backfield so they went out and acquired Mexican national Oswaldo Alanis. He paid immediate dividens as he scored a spectacular goal right near the end of stoppage time to seize victory away from Toronto FC in a 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon at Earthquakes season.

The center back, on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara for a year and occupies the Quakes international spot on the roster, had a free kick from 20 yards out on the right side. His shot sailed high into the upper left corner of the goal stunning Toronto FC and sending the home crowd into a frenzy in the season opener for both teams.

“I know Alanis. It’s not the first goal he’s scored from a free kick. I think he played 95 good minutes with a certain personality. He was enthusiastic and he showed why we brought him on (to the team),” Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda said about Alanis’ heroics.

Toronto FC (0-0-1) drew first blood in the 40th minute thanks to a controversey call by referee Armando Villarreal. With Toronto FC positioned for a corner kick, Jozy Altidore was taken down inside the box by Andres Rios before the kick and Toronto was awarded a penalty kick.

Alejandro Pozuelo easily buried the ball past Quakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega for his first goal of the season.

San Jose (0-0-1) had two quality chances to score in the first half. In the 27th minute, Nick Lima’s shot from 15 yards out was deflected away at last second by Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg. Then in the 43rd minute, Danny Hoesen dribbled in from inside the D when his shot sailed just to the left of the goal.

Toronto FC dobuled its lead six minutes into the second half. Pozuelo led an counter-attack as he passed the ball out to Tsubasa Endoh. Endoh’s shot was kicked out by Vega, but Ritchie Laryea, who subbed in to start the second half, cleaned up the rebound for his first goal of the season and a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute.

The Quakes fired back two minutes later in the 53rd minute. Christian Espinzoa centered a pass from the right side of the D that was chipped in over Westberg by a sliding Rios in for his first goal of the season.

“I thought it was great character to show some fight. It’s never good to go down 2-0. Especially the response after the (Toronto’s) second goal,” forward Chris Wondolowski said.

The game featured sloppiness by both sides and missed calls by the officiating that seemed to favor Toronto FC that had many of the Quakes players as well as Almeyda frustrated throughout the match.

Alanis’ goal saved the Quakes from a disappointing start to the season as they had started out 0-4 last year.

“I hope there will be many more (goals like that) as I try to do my best. I’m a defender but I can bring some things offensively to the team,” said Alanis.

GAME NOTES: San Jose registered 11 shots. Toronto FC had 10.

San Jose had three corner kicks. Toronto FC has seven.

Cautions-Tommy Thompson was issued a yellow card in the 33rd minute for a tackle from behind. Jackson Yueill was also issued a yellow card in the 70th minute. Altidore was issued a yellow card in the 71st minute. Goram Kashia was issued a yellow card in the 81st minute.

UP NEXT: The Earthquakes take on the Minnesota United FC on Saturday 3/7 at 4:45pm at Earthquakes Stadium.