Filed under: MLS, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes
An 81st-minute goal from MLS MVP candidate Chris Wondolowski capped a stunning performance from the unheralded San Jose Earthquakes, who shocked the New York Red Bulls, 3-1, in Thursday's Eastern Conference semifinal decider and advanced, 3-2, on goals scored.
Wondolowski had been shut down, almost erased, by New York for the first 170 minutes of the series. But with the aggregate tally tied 2-2 following a furious five-minute stretch during which each team scored, Wondolowski snuck in behind the Red Bulls' defense and rose to meet a cross from left back Bobby Convey.
The header was perfect, and Wondo's league-leading 19th goal of the season propelled the eighth-seeded Earthquakes -- in the playoffs for the first time since 2005 -- to next week's conference final in either Columbus or Denver. San Jose is just the second team since the playoff format was introduced in 2003 to lose the first game at home and recover to win the series.
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