Oct. 23, 2009
PALO ALTO, Calif. -
Junior Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) took a pass from senior Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS) just 2 minutes, 13 seconds into the first overtime and slotted a shot past a diving goalkeeper John Moore to give the San Diego State men's soccer team a 2-1 victory over No. 17 Stanford Friday night in Palo Alto, Calif. The Aztecs (5-4-4, 2-2-2 Pac-10), who played their fifth straight nationally ranked opponent, jumped from sixth to second place in the Pac-10 with the victory, while the Cardinal fell to 8-4-1 and 2-3-1.
It was Diouf's fifth game-winning goal of his 10 career tallies for SDSU, which also received a goal from senior preseason All-American Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.). Ortega had both assists in the match, his third consecutive game with an assist, and now has a team-best six on the season.
It was San Diego State's school-record ninth overtime contest of the year and its sixth straight overtime match (previous school-record was four).
The game-winner came after a Stanford defender committed a turnover. Ortega then deflected a pass to Diouf, who calmly touched it into the left side of the net for the Aztec win.
Cardenas, who missed Friday's game against the Cardinal, a 2-1 loss in overtime where SDSU surrendered two goals over the final five-plus minutes, gave San Diego State the early 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when he took Ortega's long corner kick and hit a powerful header into the upper-right corner. It was his third goal of the season and 11th of his career.
The Aztecs had another good opportunity later in the first half when a player was taken down just outside the box on the left side. Ortega drilled a shot on the free kick toward the corner, but Stanford's keeper Moore made a diving save.
It was one of many quality chances created by Ortega in the game.
Early in the second half, SDSU put together an offensive flurry in front of the Cardinal net but were unable to get another one across. Redshirt freshman Chance Marden (Fremont, Calif.) started the attack with a shot that was deflected and punch saved by Moore. Freshman Devon Sandoval (Albuquerque, N.M.) had a rebound chance that was blocked by a defender. Then, freshman Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) pushed a shot wide.
The Cardinal tied the game in the 70th minute when Dersu Abolfathi took a pass from Adam Jahn, dribbled it into the box and finished 1-on-1 with San Diego State goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.).
In the 74th minute, Aztec junior Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) got off a quality header that was saved once again by a game Moore.
Neither team had another good chance until Diouf ended the game at the 92:13 mark.
For the match, SDSU outshot Stanford, 13-8, led by Ortega's three attempts and Diouf's two.
Byrns (5-4-3) made four saves in all 92:13, while Moore was counted on for four stops as well.
San Diego State will continue its three-game road trip Sunday at 11th-ranked California, beginning at 2 p.m.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS) earned Man of the Match honors for his great play in the midfield. Ortega assisted on both Aztec goals, his third consecutive match with an assist, and created numerous scoring opportunities for the victors. Ortega had a game-high three shots in 59 minutes.