Austin FC forward Sebastian Driussi looks to make a play while San Jose Earthquakes forward Amahl Pellegrino closes in pursuit during the teams’ 1-1 draw at Pay Pal Park on Saturday MAY 25, 2024.
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — The posts and crossbar were friends of Austin FC.
The San Jose Earthquakes hit two posts late in extra time as they settled for a 1-1 draw with Austin FC on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.
San Jose snapped its two-match pointless streak. Austin FC has points in three consecutive matches.
San Jose (3-10-2) drew first blood in the 10th minute. Cristian Espinoza led a rush down the right wing. The Argentine forward crossed the ball over to the left side where Jeremy Ebobisse blasted a left footed shot top-shelf into an open net for his co-leading fourth goal of the season.
The Earthquakes had a chance to double its lead twice in a two-minute span less than halfway through the opening 45 minutes. First in the 21st minute, a turnover inside the center of the box by an Austin FC defender found its way to the foot of fullback Vitor Costa but Costa’s shot attempt gobbled up by Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver, who made three saves in the first half.
Then two minutes later, Ebobisse found Hernán López along the right wing but López’s right footed attempt hit the right side of the net as San Jose had Austin reeling inside its own zone.
Austin (6-4-5) slowly started gaining momentum late in the first half as San Jose were issued for two yellow cards with Bruno Wilson and Espinoza being carded for fouls a minute apart in the 41st and 42nd minute.
Austin took advantage of a questionable foul by Carlos Gruezo just outside the box to the right side. Owen Wolff’s free kick was headed into the back of the net past ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough by Brendan Hines-Ike in the 45th minute for his first goal of the season giving Austin the equalizer just before halftime.
“100 percent!” said Yarbrough when asked if the team was more angry than disappointed in not earning the extra two points at the end of the match. “I want to win every game. When you’re at home with your fans, I know it’s not cheap for families of four or five that come to watch us play. And playing the way we did tonight and not being able to give them three points, which I feel like they deserved, and we deserved, it’s a frustrating feeling.”
San Jose controlled the play in the second half generating chances as they had the pitch tilted on Austin’s side for the rest of the game. In the 61st minute, López had a scoring chance inside the box but his shot went way wide left of the net. Then in 72nd minute Espinoza dribbled inside to the center of the box before firing wide right with his shot attempt.
The Earthquakes came within inches of scoring the game winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time. The ball fell to Espinoza near the edge of the goal, but his shot hit off the right post. On the ensuing rebound, López’s attempt from hit off the crossbar.
“When we play with this urgency, and this desire to push the game and attack, I know we’ll earn points and win more games over the course of time,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.
Yarbrough had one save on two shots on target to earn his second draw of the season. Stuver made six saves on seven shots on target.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with eight corner kicks. Austin FC had one.
San Jose is 2-1-6 against Austin FC in the all-time series.
UP NEXT: San Jose travels out the Big Apple to take on New York City FC on Friday at 4:30pm at Yankee Stadium.
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