The San Jose Earthquakes looked a lot like the Goonies of 2012 on Tuesday night, grabbing a last minute goal to draw Toluca 1-1 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal. The problem for San Jose is that they outplayed Toluca for much of the match and could only grab one goal, leaving them in need of a win in Mexico to advance.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toluca: Final score 1-1, Quakes snag late first leg draw
The Buck Shaw Stadium drama was back, but their Champions League dreams may be dead after they could only manage a draw in the first leg.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
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San Jose carried the match to Toluca from the start and almost scored early on as Steven Lenhart rose to meet a corner kick, but his header was cleared off the line. They continued to charge for the rest of the half, but their chances were turned away by Alfredo Talavera so they went into halftime scoreless.
The second half started much like the first and the Quakes almost scored when an inch perfect cross found a streaking Chris Wondolowski, who had an entire goal to shoot at, but managed to put it right at Talavera. Wondolowski did the same thing moments later, leaving San Jose to wonder how they could possibly win if their star striker couldn't find the net.
Things got worse in the 67th minute when a terrible defensive play gave Raul Nava a half chance on a volley from 18 yards and he struck it perfectly, putting the ball in the top corner and Toluca up 1-0.
San Jose’s attack just ramped things up after going a goal behind and Lenhart almost got them level, but his header rattled the crossbar and Alan Gordon’s follow up was blocked. At that point, the Quakes looked cursed.
Despite it all, the Quakes kept pressing and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, it paid off. Gordon got to a free kick and headed it just inside the post, past the outstretched arms of the diving Talavera. Buck Shaw Stadium erupted and the Goonies were back.
Next up for San Jose is a trip to Toluca for the second leg of the tie, which they will need to win -- or draw with at least two goals, but come on -- making tonight’s draw a little hollow. It’s a steep uphill climb now for San Jose, who have to be ruing all their missed chances, but at least they had their Goonies moment.
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