TUKWILA, Wash. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Seattle Sounders FC in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. on Wednesday night. Both teams used all 11 players during the penalty shootout, and Quakes goalkeeper Matt Bersano scored the winner after saving his counterpart’s attempt.
San Jose took an early lead in the 10th minute. Forward Benji Kikanović earned a penalty kick, which was successfully converted by midfielder Jack Skahan.
The Quakes then doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, when Cade Cowell gained possession of a loose ball and dribbled with pace into the box before slotting home a left-footed shot.
Seattle halved the deficit just four minutes later on a direct free kick by Jimmy Medranda before equalizing in the 77th minute through Fredy Montero.
Following a scoreless extra time, the match was decided in a penalty shootout.
The Earthquakes will learn their opponent and hosting privileges for the Round of 16 in a live draw on Thursday, May 12 at 5 p.m. PT (ESPN+).
The Earthquakes will remain on the road and face Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday, May 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050 (English), and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
San Jose is now 4-1-0 in all competitions under interim head coach Alex Covelo, including a 2-1-0 record in MLS play and 2-0-0 record in U.S. Open Cup play.
The Quakes are now 20-16 all-time in U.S. Open Cup competition, including 10-9 as the road team.
San Jose won a penalty shootout for the first time since June 16, 2015 vs. Sacramento Republic FC. The club is now 4-3 all-time in penalty shootouts in U.S. Open Cup competition.
The victory was the Quakes’ first ever on the road against an MLS opponent in U.S. Open Cup competition.
Midfielder Jack Skahan scored San Jose’s first goal. He has now scored one goal in each of the Quakes’ two U.S. Open Cup matches in 2022.
Forward Cade Cowell scored San Jose’s second goal. He has now scored one goal in each of the Quakes’ two U.S. Open Cup matches in 2022.
MATCH INFORMATION
2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Seattle Sounders FC 2 (9) – 2 (10) San Jose Earthquakes
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 – Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.
Attendance: 3,773
Man of the Match: Matt Bersano
Scoring Summary:
SJ (1-0) – Jack Skahan (penalty kick) 10’
SJ (2-0) – Cade Cowell (unassisted) 50’
SEA (2-1) – Jimmy Medranda (free kick) 54’
SEA (2-2) – Fredy Montero (Kelyn Rowe) 77’
Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Jimmy Medranda (caution) 26’
SJ – Jack Skahan (caution) 30’
SJ – Benji Kikanovic (caution) 48’
SJ – Francisco Calvo (caution) 49’
SJ – Oskar Ågren (caution) 62’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 63’
SEA – Fredy Montero (caution) 68’
SJ – Tanner Beason (caution) 72’
SEA – Samuel Adeniran (caution) 95’
SEA – Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 120+2’
Penalty Shootout Summary:
SEA – Fredy Montero (goal)
SJ – Cristian Espinoza (goal)
SEA – Abdoulaye Cissoko (goal)
SJ – Jackson Yueill (saved)
SEA – Leo Chu (miss high)
SJ – Jeremy Ebobisse (goal)
SEA – Dylan Teves (goal)
SJ – Francisco Calvo (goal)
SEA – Samuel Adeniran (goal)
SJ – Jamiro Monteiro (goal)
SEA – Kelyn Rowe (goal)
SJ – Marcos Lopez (goal)
SEA – Jackson Ragen (goal)
SJ – Tanner Beason (goal)
SEA – Josh Atencio (goal)
SJ – Jack Skahan (goal)
SEA – Obed Vargas (goal)
SJ – Oskar Ågren (goal)
SEA – Nouhou (goal)
SJ – Eric Remedi (goal)
SEA – Stefan Cleveland (saved)
SJ – Matt Bersano (goal)
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: StefanCleveland; Jimmy Medranda (Nouhou 97), Abdoulaye Cissoko, Jackson Ragen, Kelyn Rowe; Danny Leyva (Obed Vargas 76), Josh Atencio; Leo Chu, Fredy Montero ©, Ethan Dobbelaere (Dylan Teves 70); Will Bruin (Samuel Adeniran 70)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas (GK), Reed Baker-Whiting, Alex Roldan
SHOTS: 26; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 24; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Matt Bersano; Tommy Thompson (Francisco Calvo 85), Tanner Beason, Oskar Agren, Paul Marie (Marcos Lopez 58); Eric Remedi ©, Jack Skahan; Cade Cowell (Cristian Espinoza 69), Niko Tsakiris (Jackson Yueill 69), Ousseni Bouda (Jeremy Ebobisse 86); Benji Kikanović (Jamiro Monteiro 99)
Substitutes not used: JT Marcinkowski (GK)
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 13; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 5
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES INTERIM HEAD COACH ALEX COVELO
On the emotions postgame:
“You can imagine the emotions in the locker room. To win another game in the U.S. Open Cup, in Seattle, in this unique atmosphere that they have, and play against Seattle – it doesn’t matter what team they put on the field, it’s always difficult. The guys are very, very happy. This victory is very important.”
On the heroics of goalkeeper Matt Bersano:
“I have talked with Matt since we came in. Matt Bersano has a lot of history inside the club. He’s an important player. I think today he had a solid performance. He deserves it. He deserves to play. And we saw the result. He played great. He saved the team in the moments that he had to, and I think also he was very confident with the ball at his feet. I’m so happy for Matt.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES GOALKEEPER MATT BERSANO
On if it gets better than what happened tonight:
“I would have loved to get a save earlier in that game. I felt I was inches away from probably four of them. But once you hit kick eight or nine and you feel like it’s kind of heading that way, all I could do was hope that one of those got saved and eventually I would be able to line up and take it how I wanted it.”
On what was going through his mind during his penalty attempt:
“I’ve been shooting the ball my whole life. I’ve been shooting it as much as I’ve been playing in goal. Making the save I think was more difficult, especially with the way he hit it and the fact that it hit my hands and hit part of my face too. But when you’re lining up to shoot that, I’ve done that kick a thousand times. I’ve gone both ways. I’ve hit it wherever it needed to be to score. So at that point, especially playing in Seattle after starting my career in Seattle in 2016, It was a crazy moment, a surreal moment to be able to go up and strike that in and then be able to celebrate with the guys because that’s a moment I’ll remember forever.”
