The San Jose Earthquakes kept intact its all-time unbeaten streak against Austin FC and split the points with a 2-2 draw on the road against the Verde on Saturday in a Western Conference match.
The Earthquakes (4-3-3, 12 points) have never lost to Austin in six all-time meetings, with two wins and four draws over the three-year series between the sides. San Jose produced just its second road point of the year with Saturday’s draw.
Austin FC (2-4-3, nine points) had now gone six games without a win, drawing three of those matches. Austin has not won since beating Real Salt Lake on the road on March 11 and has scored just three goals during its swoon.
The Earthquakes jumped to the lead in the 21st minute as Jackson Yueill capped an extended attacking run when he wheeled and ripped a left-footed shot in the upper-left corner past Austin keeper Brad Stuver. Carlos Akapo garnered the assist after passing to Yueill at the right side of the box.
Austin FC produced the equalizer in the 40th minute as Emiliano Rigoni found the net for his first MLS goal with a right-footed shot from the goal mouth after a headed pass from the back post across the box by Rodney Redes.
Rigoni, the Argentine attacker signed in late July 2022 from Brazilian Serie A club Sao Paulo FC, had not scored in his first 15 games with Austin FC.
The goal was the first in 305 minutes of play for Austin FC, which had been held scoreless in three straight matches.
Austin pressed for the lead goal in the over the first 30 minutes of the second half, racking up three shots including one by Nick Lima in the 61st minute that forced a save at the bottom-right corner by San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.
Jeremy Ebobisse gave the Earthquakes the lead in the 75th minute with a header to the bottom left corner and a crossing pass by Cristian Espinoza. Austin responded immediately as Sebastian Driuissi pounced on a rebound of a shot from Leo Vaisanen three minutes later after a corner kick by Lima that tied the match at 2-2.
Neither team could mount a serious scoring threat over the final 12 minutes and four minutes of added time.
–Field Level Media
