St Louis CITY2 fell 2-0 to San Jose Earthquakes II in the first round of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs on Sunday, October 1. After a scoreless first half, Quakes II put home two second half goals to end CITY2’s ten-match unbeaten run and secure the victory.
Quakes II sent the first dangerous chance of the match on frame in the 23rd minute, but goalkeeper Christian Olivares leapt to his left and swatted the ball over the crossbar. The visitors worked back into the box a few minutes later, but Olivares came off his line and dove on the loose ball.
In the second half, CITY2 set the tone by launching a few shots on target in the opening minutes, but Quakes II’s goalkeeper deflected them away from goal. San Jose, however, took the lead in the 63rd minute when midfielder Will Richmond slotted one home in transition.
In the 81st minute, midfielder Faysal Bettache blasted a shot on goal that Quakes II’s goalkeeper blocked away. Forward Caden Glover had a chance off the deflection, but his shot attempt missed just high.
Earthquakes II forward Ousseni Bouda doubled the away side’s advantage in the 87th minute, placing a strike from distance into the upper right corner of the goal.
STARTING LINEUP
Christian Olivares, Nolan McGuire, Michael Wentzel ©, Josh Maher (Mykhi Joyner 78’), Ezra Armstrong, Sergio Rivas (AJ Palazzolo 64’), Max Schneider, John Klein, Wan Kuzain (Aaron Heard 89’), Faysal Bettache, Caden Glover
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED:
Eric Walker, Ryley Gibbs, Dida Armstrong, Stanislav Koval, Larsen Hackworth
