SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (8-6-2, 26 points) fell 1-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes (6-5-4, 22 points) on Wednesday evening on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Jeremy Ebobisse scored the game’s lone goal as Seattle dropped the second match of a three-game homestand.
Ebobisee found the net in the 48th minute for his second goal in as many matches against Seattle. A corner kick was deflected to the feet of the striker, who finished from close range to put the visitors up early in the second half.
Following Wednesday’s match, the Rave Green face a quick turnaround against archrival Portland Timbers on Saturday, June 3 at Lumen Field (1:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, FOX, 93.3 KJR FM, Sirius XM FC, El Rey 1360 AM). The match is part of a Seattle-Portland doubleheader featuring both cities' topflight men’s and women’s soccer teams at Lumen Field, with a single ticket providing access to the full day. Following Sounders FC’s match at 1:30 p.m. PT, OL Reign hosts the Portland Thorns at 5:00 p.m. PT.
MEDIA NOTE: Ahead of Saturday's Seattle-Portland doubleheader, a joint press conference is being held at Lumen Field on Friday, June 2 at 1:30 p.m. PT featuring representatives from Sounders FC and OL Reign. More details are forthcoming, but interested media should reach out to Sounders FC Communications for more information.
MATCH NOTES
- Following tonight’s loss, Sounders FC remains atop the MLS Western Conference with 26 points, one point ahead of St. Louis and LAFC. Both St. Louis (three matches) and LAFC (four matches) have games in-hand over Sounders FC. Next up for Seattle: a pivotal Cascadia Cup matchup at Lumen Field against archrival Portland on Saturday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m. PT, the first of a two-match doubleheader the features both Seattle’s men’s and women’s teams facing off against their Portland counterparts (OL Reign hosts the Portland Thorns at 5:00 p.m. PT).
- On home turf at Lumen Field in 2023, Seattle has five wins, three losses and one draw through nine MLS contests in SoDo.
- On the heels of tonight’s result, Sounders FC moves to 15-13-9 all-time against San Jose, including a 10-7-3 mark at Lumen Field. San Jose’s seven wins at Lumen Field are the most road victories against Sounders FC in the club’s MLS era (since 2009).
- Tonight’s win was San Jose’s first road victory of 2023 (1-5-2).
- San Jose had lost just one its last five MLS matches against the Rave Green (1-3-1), including going unbeaten in both of last season’s meetings (one win, one draw).
- San Jose forward Jeremy Ebobisse scored his third goal against Sounders FC (all competitions) with his strike in the 48th minute of play.
- Entering the match as a 58th-minute substitute, forward Raúl RuidÃaz made his return from an injury layoff that dates back to April 15. The Peruvian had been battling a hamstring strain. He remains Seattle’s second all-time leading scorer across all competitions with 75 goals, trailing current teammate Fredy Montero by four strikes.
- Kelyn Rowe also made his return from injury tonight as a substitute, entering the match in the 73rd minute of play, marking his first minutes since suffering a knee sprain at Real Salt Lake on April 29.
- Seattle Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made four changes to his starting XI this evening following Saturday’s 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls. Xavier Arreaga rotated in for Yeimar Gómez Andrade at centerback, while Nouhou replaced Cody Baker (concussion protocol) at left-back. Josh Atencio replaced João Paulo in central midfield (suspension), while Dylan Teves stepped in for the injured Jordan Morris (left adductor strain).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – San Jose Earthquakes 1
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis
VAR: Malik Badawi
Attendance: 30,013
Weather: 60 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SJ – Jeremy Ebobisse (Rodrigues, Cristian Espinoza) 48’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 19’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 43’
SJ – Paul Marie (caution) 66’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 77’
SEA – Josh Atencio (caution) 86’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou (Kelyn Rowe 73’); Albert Rusnák (Fredy Montero 73’), Josh Atencio, Dylan Teves (Reed Baker-Whiting 58’), Nico Lodeiro, Léo Chú; Héber (Raúl RuidÃaz 58’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Yeimar, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Sota Kitahara, Travian Sousa*
*Tacoma Defiance player on short-term agreement
Total shots: 23
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 12
Offside: 2
Corner-Kicks: 10
Saves: 2
San Jose Earthquakes – Daniel De Sousa Brito; Paul Marie (Daniel Munie 72’), Tanner Beason, Miguel Trauco, Rodrigues; Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill (Michael Baldisimo 89’), Jamiro Monteiro (Ousseni Bouda 89’); Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse, Benji Kikanovic (Tommy Thompson 72’)
Substitutes not used: JT Marcinkowski, Jack Skahan, Cameron Cilley, Will Richmond
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 9
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 8
