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Posted: Monday November 10, 2003 02:55 AM
SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Rodrigo Faria scored in overtime to cap an amazing rally by the San Jose Earthquakes as they advanced past the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy with a 5-2 victory.
San Jose won on aggregate goals, 5-4, after conceding the first two goals on Sunday and suffering a 2-0 loss in Game One. The Earthquakes battled out of the four-goal deficit and forced extra-time on substitute Chris Roner's header in the 90th minute that made the score, 4-2, and tied the aggregate.
The Earthquakes, who underwent a record scoring drought of 402 minutes near the end of the regular season, followed with the game-winner when Faria beat goaltender Kevin Hartman with a shot to the far post, sending the crowd at Spartan Stadium into a frenzy.
Los Angeles posted a 2-0 victory in the opener, improving to 2-0-1 against their California rival. The Galaxy seemed poised to move on when Carlos Ruiz scored in the seventh minute and Peter Vagenas added his first playoff goal six minutes later.
Jeff Agoos gave San Jose some life with a goal in the 21st minute and Landon Donovan's goal off a perfect feed from Jamil Walker knotted the match at halftime. The Earthquakes pulled within 4-3 in the aggregate on Walker's goal in the 50th minute.
Roner, who entered in the 89th minute, scored off a cross from Richard Mulrooney just moments after his entrance to send the game to the golden goal overtime.
The Earthquakes, who had just one goal in their previous five games, will host the Kansas City Wizards Saturday in the Western Conference final.
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