The deck was always a bit stacked against the San Jose Earthquakes as soon as their lineup was announced. But despite missing as many as seven potential starters, the Quakes managed to take an early lead and took Toluca all the way to the sixth round of a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, the Goonies’ CONCACAF Champions League dreams finally died.
Toluca vs. Earthquakes: Toluca prevails in penalties
Earthquakes used a lineup severely diminished by injury and suspension and took it as far as they could go.
Toluca prevailed in the Wednesday’s shootout, winning 1 (5)-1 (4) when Wilson Tiago’s penalty caromed in off the crossbar and Shea Salinas’ rung off it. Jon Busch, who had saved Raul Nava’s penalty attempt in the first round, got a piece of Tiago’s but could not keep it out.
It was the first time during the CCL era that a MLS team had taken a Mexican opponent to penalties.
Ty Harden, who had never before scored a professional and was only starting due to injury, gave the Earthquakes the lead with a 56th minute header. The 30-year-old was able to get position on a well-placed Shea Salinas free kick and nodded it inside the far post.
Toluca, though, came storming back. Moments after Cordell Cato had cleared a ball off the line, Isaac Brizuela -- who was actually born in San Jose -- knocked down a ball with his chest and blasted a half-volley past Jon Busch in the 69th minute. Toluca nearly put the match away in regulation but Sam Cronin cleared another attempt off the line in the 85th minute.
Alan Gordon appeared to give the Earthquakes another lead in the 95th minute when he scored off a rebound from a Chris Wondolowski shot, but the assistant referee incorrectly ruled him offside.
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Toluca’s best chance to win before penalties came in the 118th minute when Pablo Velazquez’s header hit off the underside of the crossbar.
The first half was all Toluca, but despite absolutely dominating possession -- to the tune of about 70 percent -- the patchwork Quakes defense actually held up pretty well in the first half. Toluca only had a few good chances, but Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch came up big each time. Toluca’s best chance came in the 22nd minute when Erbin Trejo dribbled past Cordell Cato and fired a shot from about 12 yards, but right at Busch who knocked it away.
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