It appeared like the Seattle Sounders would win their first game ever at Avaya Stadium on Saturday after 89 minutes, but late heroics by Chris Wondolowski ensured the San Jose Earthquakes a share of the points at home in a 1-1 draw.
Scoreless through 83 minutes, Nicolas Lodeiro hit a rebound off a blocked free kick to put the Sounders ahead late, but Wondolowski managed a late tally to knot the scoreline back up for good.
Goals
- 84' – SEA – Nicolas Lodeiro Watch
- 90' – SJ – Chris Wondolowski Watch
Three Things
SCRAPPY TO-DO: Truth be told, until the goals the game was very much a defensive battle. Fouls were plentiful, with the Quakes committing most of them, while in possession and shots the teams were nearly dead even. Still, that defensive effort wasn't entirely for naught, and both teams should be happy to take something from the match. The Sounders couldn't clinch all three points, but a road draw in a venue where they've never won is nothing to sniff at, while the Quakes' last-gasp heroics ensured they would grab a point when it looked like all was lost.
QUAKES STAY UNBEATEN AT HOME: Wondolowski's goal was a trademark redirect in the box off a cross, and maintained the team's unbeaten start to the season at home. Obviously it's early, but they remain in the top half of the Western Conference standings, on a pace to start the season they'll want to maintain if they want to finally get back into the MLS Cup Playoffs this year.
LODEIRO WITH A BOMB:
Wondolowski's goal may have been a trademark effort, but Lodeiro's was truly something out of nothing, as
Clint Dempsey's
free kick attempt was blocked by the San Jose wall. The Uruguayan took the redirect on the half-volley, for a gorgeous bomb that
David Bingham
had no chance to stop. It's the kind of golazo that's perhaps becoming more commonplace in MLS, but it was still jaw-dropping in its audacity.
