SOCCER: Earthquakes score 5 second-half goals to beat Austin FC

Timo Werner scored the tiebreaking goal from the penalty spot in the 78th minute as MLS-leading San Jose Earthquakes erupted for five second-half goals in a 5-1 victory over visiting Austin FC on Wednesday night.

Preston Judd delivered a brace, while Jack Jasinski and Ousseni Bouda also found the back of the net as San Jose (8-1-0, 24 points) extended its franchise-best start. The Earthquakes scored four goals in a 12-minute span late in the second half to secure their fifth straight win.

San Jose dominated throughout, outshooting Austin 37-6 and placing 16 shots on target compared to just two from the visitors. Goalkeeper Brad Stuver kept Austin competitive for much of the match with 11 saves, including several key stops.

Austin FC (1-4-4, 7 points) remains winless in its last seven MLS matches (0-4-3). Joseph Rosales scored the lone goal for the visitors.

The turning point came in the 77th minute when Austin’s Nicolás Dubersarsky fouled Jamar Ricketts in the box, resulting in a penalty. Werner converted the opportunity a minute later, calmly placing a right-footed shot into the lower left corner to give San Jose its first lead of the match.

San Jose quickly extended its advantage. In the 83rd minute, Paul Marie set up Judd for a running right-footed finish past Stuver. Two minutes later, Bouda intercepted a pass from Jon Bell and fired a shot that deflected off Stuver and into the net to make it 4-1.

The scoring continued in the 89th minute when Marie delivered a cross to Judd, who headed it home to complete the scoring.

Austin had opened the match strong, taking the lead in the ninth minute after a turnover in San Jose’s defensive third. Rosales capitalized with a left-footed strike that deflected into the net off a defender.

Austin nearly doubled its lead in the 17th minute, but Facundo Torres’ powerful shot was denied by San Jose goalkeeper Daniel, who made his only save of the match and pushed the ball wide.

San Jose responded in the second half and never looked back, turning a close contest into a dominant statement win. -Field Level Media/Reuters