MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC falls 2-0 on the road in San Jose

Seattle Sounders FC (10-8-5, 35 points) fell 2-0 on the road Wednesday evening to the San Jose Earthquakes (8-7-8, 32 points) at PayPal Park. Carlos Espinoza scored a 19th-minute penalty and then assisted a Miguel Trauco volley from distance in the 65th minute, as the Earthquakes took all three points and swept the season series against Seattle. The loss snaps a two-match winning streak for the Rave Green, who return home Saturday, July 15 to host FC Dallas on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, 93.3 KJR FM, Sirius XM FC, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

•    Sounders FC falls to third in the Western Conference with 35 points through 23 matches played (10-8-5), three points shy of first-place St. Louis City SC and one point behind second-place LAFC.

•    With the result, San Jose sweeps the 2023 season series against Seattle, following a 1-0 Earthquakes win on May 31. Sounders FC is now 15-14-9 all-time against San Jose in MLS regular-season play. 

•    With the win, San Jose clinches the 2023 Heritage Cup, an annual competition between the two sides. This marks the second consecutive win for the Earthquakes.

•    With the start tonight, Nouhou surpasses Chad Marshall for the most all-competition appearances made by a defender for Sounders FC in the MLS era (187). He passed Marshall in career MLS regular-season appearances for Seattle in last Saturday’s game in Vancouver.

•    Stefan Cleveland made his second consecutive start in goal in place of Stefan Frei, who remains out in the concussion protocol. 

•    Coach Schmetzer made two changes to his starting XI from Saturday’s win in Vancouver, as Cody Baker and Héber replaced Alex Roldan and Raúl Ruidíaz, both of whom later appeared as substitutes.

•    Following this evening’s U.S. Men’s National Team loss to Panama in the Semifinals of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris and midfielder Cristian Roldan are set to return to Seattle ahead of Saturday’s home match against FC Dallas. 

MATCH SUMMARY
 
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – San Jose Earthquakes 2
Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Venue: PayPal Park
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Justin Howard
Fourth Official: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Attendance: 13,577
Weather: 67 degrees and clear
 
SCORING SUMMARY

SJ – Cristian Espinoza (penalty) 19’
SJ – Miguel Trauco (Cristian Espinoza) 65’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
 
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 41’
SEA – Léo Chú (caution) 45’+4’

LINEUPS & STATS
 
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Cody Baker (Alex Roldan 46’), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou (Reed Baker-Whiting 81’); João Paulo (Josh Atencio 66’), Obed Vargas, Nico Lodeiro (Dylan Teves 67’), Albert Rusnák, Léo Chú; Héber (Raúl Ruidíaz 66’)

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Fredy Montero, Abdoulaye Cissoko

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 9
Offside: 0
Corner-Kicks: 3
Saves: 1

San Jose Earthquakes – JT Marcinkowski; Paul Marie (Benji Kikanovic 90’+1’), Tanner Beason, Miguel Trauco, Rodrigues; Carlos Akapo, Carlos Gruezo, Jack Skahan (Tommy Thompson 85’), Judson (Cameron Cilley 90’+3’); Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse (Ousseni Bouda 90’+3’)

Substitutes not used: Emmanuel Ochoa, Jonathan Mensah, Will Richmond, Daniel Munie, Niko Tsakiris

Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 9
Offside: 4
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 2