Last Second Heroics Lifts UCLA over California, 4-3

Thursday, October 13

Berkeley, Calif.

4:00 PM

UCLA

7-3-1, 3-1-0PAC-12

California

4-5-2, 0-3-1PAC-12

UCLA

California

Blayne Martinez (Photo by Jose Lopez)

Photo by: Jose Lopez

Last Second Heroics Lifts UCLA over California, 4-3

October 13, 2016 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Martinez Postgame Interview

By: UCLA Athletics

Blayne Martinez scored with just two seconds remaining in regulation to secure the victory, while Seyi Adekoya recorded three points with a goal and an assist as No. 17 UCLA defeated California, 4-3, on the road at Edwards Stadium. The Bruins have now won their last three Pac-12 contests.

"Tonight's game had a lot of twists and turns, highs and lows, but I'm really proud of the fact that the guys found a way to win and to come out on top in the 90 minutes," said UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo. "We could have sulked and been really disappointed by not converting on our penalty kick but the guys fought until the end and got what they deserved. The result is hard on Cal but at the end of the day the game was played well and hard by both teams and we look forward to Sunday."

With less than a minute left in regulation and the score tied at 3-3, the Bruins pushed offensively and earned a corner kick. Adekoya served the ball into the box and it eventually fell to the foot of Martinez who put it in the back of the net with just two seconds left on the scoreboard. It is his third goal of the season and his first game-winner.

The match was tied at halftime, 1-1, as Cal got on the board first in the 27th minute as Trevor Haberkorn scored his first of the season. UCLA tied the game late in the opening period as Brian Iloski netted his team-best fourth goal of the season when Jose Hernandez threaded a pass through the backline to Iloski who finished to the near post.

The Bruins jumped out to an early lead in the second half as Adekoya took a powerful shot from 20 yards away that found the upper-right corner of the net in the 51st minute. Cal tied the game on a penalty kick just one minute later but UCLA retook the lead in the 61st minute when Jason Romero collected a pass from Adekoya and was able to fight off a defender and shoot it far post to give UCLA a 3-2 advantage.

The Golden Bears would knot the game once again at 3-3 in the 81st minute as a free kick from just outside the box hit the crossbar and went straight down, but Joshua Morton collected the rebound and scored the match's sixth goal. The Bruins earned a penalty kick in the 89th minute but were unable to convert as Jonathan Klinsmann made the stop as it looked to be the final scoring chance before overtime until Martinez's late heroics sealed the win.

This marks the third match this season that the Bruins have scored four or more goals.

UCLA (7-3-1, 3-1-0) returns to the pitch on Sunday when they take on Pac-12 leader Stanford on the road at 5 p.m.