Hernan Lopez recorded a brace and the San Jose Earthquakes eliminated FC Dallas from playoff contention with a 3-2 home victory on Wednesday night.
Jeremy Ebobisse also scored for the MLS-worst Earthquakes (6-23-3, 21 points), who halted a five-match winless streak (0-4-1).
Daniel made three saves, including stopping a penalty kick by Dallas’ Jesus Ferreira in the 89th minute. The save became more crucial when FC Dallas pulled within one a minute later on a header by Sebastien Ibeagha.
Alan Velasco also scored a goal for FC Dallas (10-15-7, 37 points), who saw their Western Conference postseason hopes stomped out despite maintaining possession for 58.3 percent of the match.
Jimmy Maurer made one save for Dallas, which had a 17-10 edge in shots.
San Jose took a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute when Lopez sent a left-footed shot into the right corner of the net. It was his second goal of the night and sixth of the season.
Four minutes later, FC Dallas turned the ball over in the midfield to give the Earthquakes a breakout situation.
The sequence ended with Ebobisse receiving the ball in front of the net. He knocked a left-footed shot into the net for a two-goal margin.
However, Ibeagha’s leaping header off Sebastian Lletget’s corner kick — his second goal of the season — gave FC Dallas renewed life.
Dallas has six stoppage-time minutes to work with in the hunt for two goals to keep its playoff bid alive. However, the visitors had just one solid chance, and that ended with Bernard Kamungo’s left-footed shot sailing over the net.
Lopez gave San Jose the lead in the 13th minute when his left-footed shot bounced past Maurer. Earthquakes standout Cristian Espinoza registered his 14th assist on the play.
Dallas knotted the score in the 41st minute when Velasco’s left-footed shot went into the top left-hand corner of the net. It was his second goal of the campaign.
–Field Level Media
