Photo by Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports
By SBI SOCCER
In a matchup that could prove to be the difference in a tight Western Conference playoff race, the San Jose Earthquakes just couldn’t hold on to what would have been a crucial victory over the Seattle Sounders
Down a goal late, the Sounders leveled the scoreline on a late Obafemi Martins finish, earning a 1-1 draw Saturday night at Avaya Stadium in a matchup of Western Conference contenders.
Martins volleyed equalizer came in the 82nd minute on a play that started via a free kick from the debuting Andreas Ivanschitz. Playing the ball into the box, Ivanschitz’s ball found the head of Zach Scott, whose shot was parried away by a diving David Bingham. Martins followed the rebound with an athletic volley, flicking a shot over his shoulder and into the back of the net to earn the Sounders a late draw.
The Sounders broke a three-way tie for fourth place in the West with the draw, while the Quakes move within two points of the sixth-place Portland Timbers for the conference’s final postseason position.
Deadlocked through a majority of the game, the Earthquakes finally received what appeared to be the crucial breakthrough on a finish from Alashe.
Having earned a free kick on the right side of the box in the 70th minute, the Earthquakes’ pivotal moment was kickstarted by a ball in from Matias Perez Garcia. With the ball finding the head of Alashe, the rookie midfielder redirected a shot towards the far post, besting Stefan Frei for the first goal of the game.
Martin’s equalizer came just 12 minutes later, as the Sounders forward’s finish could prove vital in leading the Sounders to a postseason berth.
The Quakes looked to take the lead in the 37th minute, with Chris Wondolowski coming within inches of giving his side a first-half advantage. Following a pass from Anibal Godoy, the Quakes forward turned and rocketed a shot on the half-volley that smashed off the far post.
Eight minutes later, the Sounders suffered a major hit, as recent signing Roman Torres was forced out of the game due to injury. Walking off on his own power, the Sounders centerback suffered an injury to his left knee, forcing a substitution in favor of Scott.
In addition, forward Nelson Valdez was also forced off due to injury, using the Sounders’ third and final sub in just the 59th minute.
The Earthquakes returns to action on Saturday in a clash with the visiting Montreal Impact at Avaya Stadium, while the Sounders take on the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday at BC Place.