Despite scoring two beautiful goals, the San Jose Earthquakes also conceded two penalty kicks. That allowed Austin FC to tie and eventually win a penalty kick shootout in a 2025 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match at PayPal Park.
“Our team played very well. Austin was not at all dangerous in attack the entire evening,” said Quakes head coach Bruce Arena after the game. “We conceded two penalty kicks. That certainly is our fault, and we’re to blame for that for sure.”
San Jose had a dream start in their cup match when Chicho Arango converted a beautiful strike from the top of the box in the 12th minute for the early lead.
The Quakes rode that lead until the 63rd minute when San Jose defender Max Floriani stuck out his foot and tripped Austin FC forward Brandon Vazquez in the box. Referee Brandon Stevis had no choice but to point to the spot. Vazquez stepped up and delivered the tying penalty kick goal.
Unfortunately, just a few minutes later, Vazquez went down on a non-contact foul and had to leave the game with an apparent knee injury.
Late in the second half, Quakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza was fouled by Austin defender Mikkel Desler, which opened up a gash right above his knee that reportedly required ten stitches to close.
“I know he needed to get stitches. The foul on him was a straight red card,” Arena commented. However, Desler only received a yellow card on the play, and as full time expired, the game went to extra time.
In the first period of extra time, it looked like Espinoza’s replacement on the field, Benji Kikanovic, was going to end up the hero. After a scramble in the box with multiple Quakes players having shots on target, the ball fell to Kikanovic, and he was able to bounce his shot through the Austin defense and past the hands of Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver in the 99th minute.
However, the Quakes once again shot themselves in the foot when Quakes midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye fouled Austin’s Owen Wolff in the box. Myrto Uzuni stepped up to convert the penalty and sent the game to a penalty kick shootout.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” conceded Quakes defender Jamar Rickets. “No team wants to tie the game from a penalty kick.”
The shootout started poorly when Stuver saved the Quakes’ Cristian Arango’s first PK. Stuver also saved San Jose winger DeJuan Jones’s attempt. After Austin’s Owen Wolff converted their fourth penalty, the visitors celebrated their 4-2 shootout win, and the Quakes’ U.S. Open Cup run came to an end.
“I thought our guys gave a good effort, and we should’ve walked off the field advancing in this tournament,” lamented Arena.
Now, San Jose’s attention turns solely to securing an MLS playoff spot.
“We definitely have high aspirations. In our heads, we’re playing playoffs no matter what. I think if we’re going to make a good run and have the chance to really win the whole thing,” said Rickets. “I think we just need to fine-tune the small things and really come together and practice and keep being in unity. I think the coaching staff does a great job revealing who we’re playing against and knowing what we need to do. We just need to be fully locked in for the whole 90 minutes—today 120 minutes.”
