San Jose Earthquakes Rally Past Austin FC in Season Finale
Niko Tsakiris Celebrating his FreeKick Goal (Photo By: Jose Martinez)
Match Overview
On Saturday night at PayPal Park, the San Jose Earthquakes wrapped up their 2025 MLS season with a hard-fought 2–1 comeback win over Austin FC. Despite already being eliminated from playoff contention, San Jose played with pride in front of their home crowd, while Austin—who had already clinched a postseason spot—looked to finish strong ahead of their first-round matchup.
Owen Wolff #33 taking on San Jose Defender. (Photo By: Jose Martinez)
First Half – Austin Strikes First
Austin FC started the match sharper and more composed in possession. Their early pressure paid off in the 22nd minute, when Owen Wolff broke the deadlock. After a quick buildup down the right flank, Jader Obrian laid off a pass to Wolff, who fired a low strike from distance that took a slight deflection before beating the San Jose goalkeeper.
San Jose thought they had found an equalizer in the 31st minute when Josef Martínez put the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that a teammate interfered with the goalkeeper’s line of sight during the buildup. The call deflated the home fans, and Austin took a 1–0 lead into halftime.
Chicho Arango #9 taking on Biro#29 (Photo By: Jose Martinez)
second Half – Earthquakes Turn It Around
The Earthquakes came out of the break with renewed intensity, pressing higher up the field and forcing Austin’s back line into mistakes. Their persistence finally paid off in the 74th minute when Josef Martínez headed home a pinpoint cross from Jack Skahan, leveling the score at 1–1.
Barely three minutes later, the momentum fully swung in San Jose’s favor. A foul just outside the box gave the Quakes a free kick in a dangerous spot, and Niko Tsakiris stepped up with confidence. The 19-year-old midfielder curled a perfect left-footed strike over the wall and into the top corner to make it 2–1 — his first career MLS goal.
San Jose controlled the rest of the match, maintaining possession and closing out a deserved victory.
Christian Espinoza #10 Taking on Two Austin FC Defenders. (Photo By: Jose Martinez)
Key Performances
Josef Martínez: The veteran striker was everywhere up front, scoring the equalizer and finishing the season as San Jose’s top scorer with 14 goals.
Niko Tsakiris: The young midfielder’s stunning free kick sealed the comeback and showcased his growing importance to the Quakes.
Cristian Espinoza: While he didn’t score, the captain led by example, creating several chances and ending the year among MLS leaders in assists and key passes.
Owen Wolff (Austin FC): His early goal was one of the few bright spots for Austin in a second half dominated by San Jose.
By the Numbers
Possession: San Jose 60.9% – Austin 39.1%
Shots: San Jose 26 (10 on target) – Austin 4 (2 on target)
Corners: San Jose 15 – Austin 3
Expected Goals (xG): San Jose 3.2 – Austin 0.3
These stats underline San Jose’s dominance, especially in the final half hour when they flipped the game’s momentum completely.
San Jose Celebrating Tsakiris Freekick Goal. (Photo By: Jose Martinez)
Post-Match Reactions
Head coach Bruce Arena praised his team’s mentality after the final whistle:
“We played for pride tonight, and I think our players showed what this club can be when we play with energy and discipline. We didn’t get the playoff spot, but we ended the season the right way.”
Austin’s coach Nico Estévez admitted his team lost control after halftime:
“We sat too deep and invited pressure. San Jose deserved the result. We’ll regroup and focus on the playoffs.”
Season Implications
The victory gave San Jose a final record of 11-15-8 (41 points), placing them 10th in the Western Conference, narrowly missing the postseason. For a team that struggled early in the year, the late-season form under Bruce Arena gives fans optimism for 2026.
Austin FC finished 6th in the West (47 points) and will face Los Angeles FC in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Despite the loss, Austin remains one of the more balanced teams in the conference and will look to rebound quickly.
Moments Before the Freekick Goal. (Photo By: Jose Martinez)
Final Thoughts
San Jose’s final match was a snapshot of resilience — a slow start, a defiant fightback, and a thrilling finish. For the Quakes, it wasn’t enough to reach the playoffs, but it was a statement performance to build on.
Austin FC, meanwhile, will need to tighten up defensively if they hope to make a deep playoff run. The night belonged to the Quakes, who gave their fans a memorable ending to the 2025 season.