Despite a staunch defensive effort, the San Jose Earthquakes fell on the road to Sporting Kansas City 4-2 on penalty kicks in the Western Conference MLS wildcard playoff game at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
After a scoreless 90 minutes set up the penalty kick shootout, Sporting KC keeper Tim Melia saved Quakes forward Cristian Espinoza’s attempt and then watched as Jackson Yueill skied San Jose’s second penalty kick over the bar. Quakes keeper Daniel stopped KC’s Alan Pulido attempt, but it wasn’t enough to overcome San Jose’s early deficit as Kansas City converted all of their other attempts.
Coming into the playoff game facing a raucous crowd in a sold-out stadium, the Earthquakes’ game plan was to soak up Kansas City’s attack and take the opportunities that presented themselves.
“We came here with a quick turnaround and with a mission. We didn’t celebrate making the playoffs,” explained Earthquakes coach Luchi Gonzalez after the game.
The plan worked to perfection in the first half as the home side’s best chance was on a chip shot from Johnny Russell in the 11th minute that San Jose keeper Daniel batted out of bounds.
Kansas City became even more aggressive after halftime and had a golden opportunity to take the lead a minute into the second half. Sporting’s Dániel Sallói slotted a ball to teammate Pulido, who made a late run into the box. The forward’s shot went past the outstretched hands of San Jose keeper Daniel, but Quakes center-back Rodrigues got his feet in front of the attempt and pushed it wide of the goal.
After several more shots by Kansas City, the Quakes head coach shook up his attack, bringing in Cade Cowell in place of Matthew Hoppe out wide. Almost immediately, the tide of the game equalized because of his aggressive runs up the pitch.
Cowell had the Earthquakes’ best chance in the second half. In the 66th minute, he tantalizingly carried the ball across KC’s penalty box before teeing up his shot. Sporting center-back Andreu Fontàs got a leg to the shot and deflected it out of bounds.
“He really pushed them back and almost scored a great goal driving across the box and almost set up another goal,” explained Gonzalez after the match.
Sporting had one other excellent chance in the 79th minute when a Johnny Russell freekick from just outside the box hit the goalpost.
With the game ended in a scoreless tie, it immediately went to penalty kicks to decide a winner. After KC’s Sallói scored the decisive PK, the home crowd went wild as the Kansas City players celebrated on the field. Sporting advanced to face the top seed St. Louis FC as the Quakes’ season suddenly ended.
Despite the bitter result, the future looks brighter for San Jose.
“We gave validation to all the work that we put into the season on and off the field. Trying to make our fans and families admire the way we act and play,” said Gonzalez.
He later added: “I want to say thank you to our fans and our community for showing us amazing and relentless support and energy all season long, on and off the field and in and out of that stadium. We wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for them.”
