May 22, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release
San Jose Earthquakes battle the Sacramento Republic FC
(San Jose Earthquakes)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Sacramento Republic FC 4-3 in extra time on Tuesday night at Heart Health Park in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
San Jose struck first in the 11th minute when Benji Kikanović outpaced his defender on the left wing and fed a streaking Preston Judd, who coolly slotted the ball past Republic goalkeeper Danny Vitiello to open the scoring. The hosts answered when former Earthquakes midfielder Luis Felipe’s cross found Kieran Phillips for the equalizer six minutes later. Sacramento pulled ahead before halftime when Jack Gurr raced down the right wing and his cross was finished by Phillips for his second of the night.
The Quakes refused to fold after intermission, and with 10 minutes left in regulation, Quakes winger Cristian Espinoza bent a free kick from well outside the box into the back of the net to tie the score. With the Republic assailing the net in stoppage time, debutant goalkeeper Jacob Jackson made multiple point blank-saves to keep the match knotted 2-2 as the whistle blew for extra time.
In the 100th minute, San Jose pulled ahead when second-half substitute Hernán López played a give-and-go with Preston Judd to put the Quakes ahead. However, after the extra-time intermission, the Republic responded with two quick goals from Luis Felipe and Sebastian Herrera in the 107th and 108th minute to recapture the game for good in a match that saw four lead changes.
The Quakes return to Major League Soccer regular season play Saturday, May 25, when they face Austin FC at home. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as on local radio AM 810 The Spread (English) and AM 1370 La Kaliente (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer’s Club Championship in its 109th edition – has crowned a champion since 1914 in every year except 2020 and 2021. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
The Earthquakes now hold a 21-19 all-time record in U.S. Open Cup play and fell to 18-6 against non-MLS clubs.
The…
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