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Hassli, Wondolowski shine as 'Caps, 'Quakes draw

Jul 21, 2011 - 4:53 AM Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - Eric Hassli scored twice, answering a brace from Chris Wondolowski, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC ended a four-game losing run with a 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night.

Hassli and Wondolowski both scored their seventh and eighth goals of the year, and are just two goals behind Red Bull New York striker Thierry Henry for the Major League Soccer scoring lead.

Vancouver (2-10-9) scored just twice in its last four games, but Hassli scored in the 42nd and 61st, both times answering goals from Wondolowski.

Wondolowski scored in the third and 54th for San Jose (5-6-9), which extended its unbeaten streak at Buck Shaw Stadium to seven matches - although the last four are draws.

The Earthquakes shook up the match early, as Jacob Peterson headed off the bar in the third minute before Wondolowski followed seconds later with the opening goal.

After Vancouver survived the chance from Peterson, San Jose regained the ball and Simon Dawkins put Wondolowski through on the left side. Two Whitecaps FC players put their arms for offside, leaving goalie Joe Cannon stranded.

Wondolowski clearly remained onside before taking the pass, and he settled the chip-pass from Dawkins and fired from the left side of the penalty area to the bottom right.

Whitecaps manager Tom Soehn acknowledged during an in-match interview with TSN that "we came out flat" and, after the 'Quakes Steven Lenhart broke in alone but failed to even get a shot off, Vancouver tied the match.

Hassli matched Wondolowski with a great finish from the left side of the area, as he ran onto a short chip-pass from Shea Salinas, allowed the ball to bounce three times, then struck a half-volley off goalie Jon Busch's hands and inside the right post.

Both teams scored on their only shot on goal in the first half.

San Jose maintained its 100 percent ratio early in the second, and Wondolowski was again responsible. Peterson, playing just his second match for San Jose, sent a free kick in from the right, and Wondolowski found an open spot on the edge of the six-yard box.

Wondolowski turned a header into the net from six yards for his eighth goal of the season, but Hassli answered minutes later with his eighth.

Salinas picked up his second assist, this time working free near the left end line before slipping a pass into the middle of the area for Hassli to direct home from close range in the 61st.

Wondolowski headed off the crossbar in the 63rd as San Jose came close to its third goal, then Camilo headed just inches wide of the right post with the net open a few minutes later for Vancouver.

Vancouver's Peter Vagenas appeared to lose a tooth after a collision, but he stayed on the field. Minutes later, Busch made a save on a long free kick from Camilo and the match reached the closing stages still level at 2-2.

Lenhart had a chance to redeem himself late in the game, but he wasted another breakaway against Cannon when he fired wide of the right post from 18 yards in the 84th. He forced a save from Cannon minutes later, but the goalie did well to tip his header off the bar.

Vancouver also found the crossbar in the closing minutes when Gershon Koffie drove a right-footed shot off Busch's bar, but the draw was a welcome result for coach Tom Soehn and the Whitecaps.

San Jose visits Real Salt Lake on Saturday, while Vancouver is off until July 30 when it hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy.