Quakes top Real Salt Lake in eventful affair, reach MLS quarterfinals

The San Jose Earthquakes used a strong second-half push to advance to the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back Tournament, scoring four goals after the interval en route to a 5-2 win over Real Salt Lake on Monday night.

Down 3-2 late in the contest and pressing for an equalizer, Real Salt Lake were reduced to 10 men when Marcelo Silva was sent off for a reckless studs-up tackle. Chris Wondolowski - of course - promptly scored just minutes later to cement the victory for Matias Almeyda's team. Magnus Eriksson added his second penalty of the evening in stoppage time to cap proceedings.

The Quakes will now play the winner of Tuesday's match between the Columbus Crew and Minnesota United.

The two sides went into halftime knotted at one apiece after Cristian Espinoza and Douglas Martinez scored just over a minute apart midway through the first stanza; the latter equalized for RSL with a delightful chip.

But the Earthquakes pulled away after the break.

Eriksson slammed home a penalty in the 49th minute before Valeri Qazaishvili capitalized on some lax defending to double the advantage.

Freddy Juarez's team looked capable of pulling off a late comeback after Damir Kreilach's 75th-minute tally, but Silva's red card zapped any hope of a turnaround.

After San Jose added some sheen to the scoreline, tempers flared at the final whistle; Kyle Beckerman, whose handball led to Eriksson's second spot-kick, was shown a red card for kicking the ball at the referee.