Three goals in the final 20 minutes decide a 2-1 roller-coaster in San Jose in favor of the Earthquakes.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Fredy Montero and Steven Lenhart traded stoppage time goals as Sounders FC fell to the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-1, on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.
All three goals were scored in the final 20 minutes as San Jose captured its fifth win or draw in stoppage time this season. The loss snapped Seattle's league-best six-game (3-0-3) unbeaten streak and it was the first time the Rave Green lost on the road since June 24.
"We've played a lot of games," said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. ";At the end of the day, I'm proud of what we did and proud of our ability to come back. When you look at good, clean chances we had as many as San Jose did."
San Jose struck first when Simon Dawkins turned and whipped a 16-yard shot inside the near post in the 71st minute.
Montero pulled Seattle level just minutes after entering the match. Two minutes into stoppage time, Brad Evans sent a long throw-in into a scrum in the box and Montero headed the loose ball past Jon Busch for the equalizer.
The scoreline only lasted one minute as San Jose earned consecutive corner kicks. On the second attempt, Lenhart got free in the box and headed in the winner to the back post.
"It's inexcusable to give up that goal late," said Schmid. "You can't give Lenhart a free path where he has three or four yards to run up to the ball because he's a big guy and he jumps well and we paid the price for it."
Christian Tiffert and Sammy Ochoa made their first MLS starts. Tiffert played the full 90 minutes. He sent a dangerous free kick on target in the 50th minute and created scoring chances for Andy Rose in the 59th minute and Brad Evans in the 90th minute.
Ochoa hit the crossbar twice. In the 32nd minute, his overhead kick from six-yards out hit the frame and he was again denied by the woodwork in the 60th minute on his headed attempt.
"I think the guys adapted well," said Schmid. "I thought [Christian] Tiffert did a good job underneath and I thought Sammy Ochoa did what we asked him to do."
The match concluded Seattle's stretch of five games in fifteen days. Sounders FC returns home to host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the team's first home Cascadia Cup match of the season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
Scoring
Sounders FC – Fredy Montero (92')
Earthquakes – Simon Dawkins (71'), Steven Lenhart (Shea Salinas) 93')
Lineups
Sounders FC – Michael Gspurning, Adam Johansson, Jeff Parke, Zach Scott, Marc Burch, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Rose (Mauro Rosales 82'), Alex Caskey (Fredy Montero 84'), Christian Tiffert, Sammy Ochoa (Eddie Johnson 68').
Earthquakes – Jon Busch, Steven Beitashour, Jason Hernandez, Victor Bernardez, Justin Morrow, Marvin Chavez (Shea Salinas 87'), Sam Cronin, Rafael Baca, Simon Dawkins, Steven Lenhart, Chris Wondolowski.
Discipline
Sounders FC – Adam Johansson (caution: Hand Ball) 82'
Earthquakes – Victor Bernardez (caution: Reckless Foul) 15', Justin Morrow (caution: Reckless Foul) 47'
