Marco Ureña scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, propelling the San Jose Earthquakes into the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs with a wild 3-2 win over Minnesota United on Sunday.
Ureña, an 88th-minute substitute, took a pass from Chris Wondolowski after a shot came out to the Quakes' captain, with San Jose in need of three points from a win to make the playoffs and facing elimination with a draw. Ureña finished the play and sent Avaya Stadium into hysterics.
Francisco Calvo's header in the 81st minute forced a 2-2 tie, and Minnesota United was close to playing spoiler after San Jose got off to a good start with Danny Hoesen's fifth goal of the season, in the 15th minute.
San Jose reached the postseason for first time in five seasons, despite a minus-21 goal differential.
Goals
- 15' – SJ – Danny Hoesen WATCH
- 36' – MIN – Jerome Thiesson WATCH
- 55' – SJ – Chris Wondolowski WATCH
- 81' – MIN – Francisco Calvo WATCH
- 90+3' – SJ – Marco Ureña WATCH
Three Things
- WILD FINISH: Just when everything seemed lost and San Jose was so close to seeing their tumultuous season come to a heartbreaking end, Quincy Amarikwa, Wondolowski and Ureña saved the day, and the season. Sunday's match seemed a microcosm of the season San Jose had, with a coaching change, a huge goal differential and more but in the end, somehow, the postseason.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">WE'RE IN! 🍾#Quakes74 is headed to the Audi 2017 @MLS Cup Playoffs! #ForwardAsOnepic.twitter.com/QCyziZHK8q</p>
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) October 22, 2017</blockquote></li><li><strong>HOT AT HOME, AND HOESEN: </strong> San Jose ended up winning seven of their last nine home games, but will have to win on the road to get a home leg in the second round of the playoffs. All of the seven wins were by one goal. And not to be lost in the Decision Day presented by AT&T victory was the effective Hoesen, who had a goal and the assist on Wondolowski's goal.</li><li><strong>YEAR ONE IN THE BOOKS:</strong> Minnesota United's first season in MLS is in the history books. The Loons finished with 34 points (10-18-6), but can certainly say they battled to the end. Minnesota was minutes away from ruining the Quakes' chances and clearly took its potential spoiler role seriously.</li></ol>
Next Up
- SJ: Wednesday, October 25 at Vancouver - Western Conference Knockout Round (10:30 p.m. ET | UniMás; TSN, TVAS2)
- MIN: End of season
