The earth was certainly quaking at Allianz Field tonight, as a raucous blackout crowd willed the home side to a resilient 3-1 comeback win over the San Jose Earthquakes in a final bid to earn a spot in the postseason. While results elsewhere didn’t fall their way, your Loons put in a performance to be proud of, ending the season just one point shy of the cutoff and singing Wonderwall one last time in 2026.
After finding a formula that worked, Head Coach Cameron Knowles put out the same eleven that took down LAFC on the road, rocking the 4-4-2 formation and utilizing similar tactics — with slight adjustments in positioning. Aggressive play from both wingbacks saw the Loons exert a lot of pressure out of the gate, generating several chances within the opening 10 minutes. Enterprising runs from right back Cherrion Valerius opened up the field and helped pin the visitors in, and the growing leadership capabilities of Loons’ captain Morris Duggan helped to keep the hosts disciplined and organized throughout the opening stages.
After 20 minutes, the Quakes found their footing, and both sides stepped to the ball with an intensity that almost reset the match. A period of long balls played into empty space and cheap giveaways from both sides slowly saw the Loons wrestle control back, though, with the composed play of Owen Gene and Nectarios Triantis in the middle of the park enabling the Loons to play out of pressure with style and efficiency. The trust and understanding between the players was wonderful to watch, sparking counter attacks and pushing San Jose back into a more recessed defensive shape.
Then, against the run of play, San Jose snuck in the opening goal just before the half, as Niko Tsakiris’ footwork in the middle drew MNUFC defenders and allowed him to slot Preston Judd through for the one-on-one with Drake Callender. It wasn’t the score that the Loons were hoping for at half, and certainly not the score they deserved to that point.
With their season on the line, the Boys in Black and Blue came out of the locker room with some fire under them, putting in some hard tackles and letting San Jose know they wouldn’t be laying down in defeat anytime soon. That intensity sparked scattered chances, but finally paid off in the 57th minute when MNUFC’s Argentine pair showed their quality once again.
When Joaquín Pereyra forced a turnover at midfield, he knew he had the run of Tomás Chancalay going vertical towards goal. His deft touch through traffic fell perfectly to his countryman’s feet, and Chancalay’s subsequent dribbling at speed showcased next-level composure and technical ability, capped off with a perfect finish to level the game.
From there, the Loons only grew in confidence. The subs began in the 63rd minute, and the slow drip of fresh legs made a noticeable difference in the home side’s energy. Anthony Markanich and his counterpart Valerius were working overtime to make runs down either flank, and a second goal began to feel more like an eventuality than merely a hope.
After some excellent buildups and what felt like a dozen pinpoint corner kicks from Pereyra, that hope was fully realized. An 82nd-minute corner bounced to the back post, where substitute Marcus Caldeira controlled and laid off to a waiting Triantis at the top of the box. The Greek international’s first-time strike with his left foot whizzed through traffic, off the post, and bounced off of San Jose keeper Angus Gunn before finally crossing the line. Loons up 2-1, and not much time left.
At this point, the visitors looked to be thoroughly finished, but Triantis wasn’t. He doubled his tally on the night — and his team’s lead — with a wonderful solo effort in the fourth minute of added time, dribbling through the midfield and taking advantage of some loose defending at the top of the box to fire a low, driven shot past Gunn.
All things considered, it was the kind of performance worthy of a playoff team. A single lapse in defending was punished, but it didn’t deter the home side in the slightest. With Portland and Seattle picking up wins, the playoffs were always going to be out of reach for your Loons at the end of the night, but when hope was still alive, the Black and Blue stepped up to do their part.
With 5 weeks left in the season, everyone was ready to write this team off. Heck, they may have written them off before then. But tonight was a prime example of why you simply can’t write this club off — ever. They don’t go down without a fight, and if you somehow manage to knock them down, you better keep watching, because they’re getting right back up.
In a season that didn’t have nearly as much Wonderwall as we wanted, tonight’s rendition felt special. Not because we got what we wanted or because we were lifting a trophy, but because we didn’t stay down. While this season is coming to an end, it feels like we’re at the start of something new.
The roar at full-time said it all — thank you, fans. We’re in this together. Onward. Forward. Until next season, you Loons.
