Bakambu's 90+4' goal added drama, but San Jose won 3-2
The match was dying when Cédric Bakambu converted a penalty at 90+4', tightening the score, yet San Jose Earthquakes prevailed 3-2 over San Diego in a game decided by the visitors' first-half advantage. Key: San Jose's offensive efficiency versus the home side's positional control.
San Diego
San Jose EarthquakesAn agonising finish
The game was dying when Cédric Bakambu scored at 90+4' to make it 3-2; the final result was San Jose Earthquakes 3, San Diego 2. The goal came after a tense ending: Max Floriani was sent off at 90+2', leaving both teams with ten men, and two minutes later the penalty awarded at 88' was converted.
That finish concentrated the tension in minutes where San Diego had territorial control: possession finished 53% for the home side and their pressure peak was at minute 90, per the momentum data, but the visitors' first-half cushion had already decided the match.
The first half made the difference
San Jose settled the game early: N. Tsakiris opened at 3' (assisted by Beau Leroux), an early penalty was confirmed by VAR but missed at 8', and Preston Judd made it 2-0 at 12'. Ousseni Bouda extended to 3-1 at 35' with an assist from Tsakiris. Those three goals were the break: halftime 3-1 to the visitors, second half 1-0 for San Diego.
That visiting efficiency shows in the numbers: San Jose posted an xG of 2.06 versus San Diego's 1.74, despite the hosts completing more passes (546 to 485) and having more possession (53% to 47%). Practically: San Diego controlled play but failed to convert that control into an earlier comeback.
What decided the outcome and the stat to keep
The match saw nine momentum swings and the modern read is straightforward: San Jose was lethal on transitions and in creating chances (8 team key passes), while San Diego pushed in the final phase (23 minutes of pressure for the home side vs 12 for visitors) until forcing the late penalty that Bakambu converted at 90+4'. Red cards also shaped the end: Carlos Joaquim dos Santos was sent off at 80' and Max Floriani at 90+2', altering spaces and defensive responsibilities.
Stat to remember: N. Tsakiris was the game's best-rated player with a 9.14 and provided 4 key passes — half of his team's key passes — while contributing directly to all three visitor goals (1 goal, 2 assists). That level of influence explains how San Jose, with less possession, produced a higher xG and took the win. — El Moderno
