Guilherme Biro scored the equalizer seven minutes into second-half stoppage time on literally the match’s final kick to lift host Austin FC to a 1-1 draw with the struggling San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in a Western Conference clash.
The Verde (6-10-7, 25 points) found a way to split the points thanks to the determination of Brandon Vazquez, who began Biro’s scoring play, and Christian Ramirez, who made the pass to Biro to set the stage for his left-footed kick that found the goal to the left of San Jose goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Austin is unbeaten in its past four MLS matches.
San Jose (10-8-5, 35 points) is 0-5-3 in eight matches since July 22 and has not won since the before the World Cup break. Gunn surrendered his first goal in the past two matches after allowing 18 in his previous six matches.
Beau Leroux got the Earthquakes on the board with the game’s first shot on goal, scoring on a left footed shot to the bottom right corner past Austin keeper Brad Stuver in the eighth minute. Niko Tsakiris assisted on the tally, laying off the ball to Leroux who calmly took advantage of a lagging Verde defense and shooting a ground-hugging shot from just outside the box.
Stuver kept Austin’s deficit at one goal with a save against Daniel Munie in the 29th minute and then on Ousseni Bouda 11 minutes hence.
Austin had an excellent chance to produce the equalizer in the 43rd minute but was denied when Brandon Vazquez’s header off clanged off the outside of the right post.
Stuver stopped Bouda again on a shot in the 59th minute. The Austin keeper finished with three saves.
Vazquez had another great look at a goal in the 69th minute when his shot from the right side of the box went over the crossbar.
Austin finally produced a shot on goal when Facundo Torres tested Gunn with a blistering shot in the 77th minute; Torres tried again three minutes later but the San Jose keeper was up to the task.
–Field Level Media
