TORONTO – Chris Wondolowski scored a hat trick to help the San Jose Earthquakes defeat Toronto FC, 3-2, and deal the Canadian club a significant blow to their playoff chances.
Struggling on offense of late with just five goals in their last six matches, Wondolowski addressed that issue early. San Jose’s leading scorer capitalized on a third minute penalty, then scored twice in the second half to give the Earthquakes enough to outlast the hosts.
Dwayne De Rosario and Maicon Santos scored for Toronto, who are now winless in their last five games at BMO Field after going 13 straight games unbeaten there earlier in the season.
With the win, San Jose have lost just once in their last seven matches to take sole possession of seventh place overall, three points up on Seattle.
For Toronto, the loss keeps them five points out of the last playoff spot with four games remaining. That deficit could become eight if Seattle win away at Chicago later Saturday night.
The win evens the all time record between the clubs at 2-2-2.
Compact and stifling for 90 minutes against Cruz Azul in CONCACAF Champions League action on Tuesday, Toronto’s defense fell victim early.
Earthquakes DP Geovanni beat defender Nick Garcia in the penalty area before feeding the ball to Bobby Convey, who was hauled down by Dan Gargan in the third minute.
Wondowlowki stepped into the penalty, sending a high drive past a diving Stefan Frei into the top left corner.
That goal stood the rest of the half before the match exploded for four goals in the second period.
Seven minutes in, Wondolowski made it 2-0 when he came onto a centering pass from Ryan Johnson to score his 11th of the season.
De Rosario gave Toronto life in the 66th minute when he took a pass from second- half substitute Mista and side footed a looping shot over Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch.
But seconds later, Wondolowski drove home his third of the game to restore the Earthquakes’ two-goal lead.
Maicon Santos brought Toronto back to within one in the 79th minute thanks to a pretty passing sequence started by O’Brian White. White fed Chad Barrett, who sent a seeing-eye centering pass that Santos redirected into the open goal.
Toronto had numerous chances to equalize late, but Nick Dasovic’s side couldn’t finish when they needed it the most.
With Dasovic and San Jose's Frank Yallop facing off, the game marked the first time in league history that two Canadian head coaches faced each other in a game.
San Jose Earthquakes 3 at Toronto FC 2
San Jose Earthquakes (11-7-6) vs. Toronto FC (8-11-7)
September 25, 2010 -- BMO Field
Scoring Summary:
SJ -- Chris Wondolowski 10 (penalty kick) 3
SJ -- Chris Wondolowski 11 (Ryan Johnson 5, Geovanni 2) 53
TOR -- Dwayne De Rosario 12 (Mista 1) 66
SJ -- Chris Wondolowski 12 (unassisted) 67
TOR -- Maicon Santos 2 (Chad Barrett 2) 79
San Jose -- Jon Busch, Chris Leitch, Jason Hernandez, Brandon McDonald, Tim Ward, Chris Wondolowski, Sam Cronin, Khari Stephenson (Brad Ring 73), Bobby Convey (Joey Gjertsen 87), Geovanni (Scott Sealy 86), Ryan Johnson.
Toronto -- Stefan Frei, Adrian Cann, Ty Harden, Nick Garcia, Raivis Hscanovics (O'Brian White 72), Dwayne De Rosario, Julian de Guzman, Dan Gargan (Mista 46), Jacob Peterson, Chad Barrett, Maicon Santos.
Misconduct Summary:
TOR -- Dwayne De Rosario (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 80
SJ -- Jon Busch (caution; Delaying a Restart) 84
Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: Eric Boria; Sean Hurd
4th Official: David Gantar
Attendance: 20,064
