MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Falls 4-3 in Wild Match to the San Jose Earthquakes

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – Seattle Sounders FC (2-4-1, 7 points) lost 4-3 to the San Jose Earthquakes (1-4-3, 6 points) Saturday evening at PayPal Park, with Rave Green goals coming from Nico Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris. A late penalty for San Jose secured all three points for the home side.

After Raúl Ruidíaz was scythed down by San Jose’s Nathan in the 10th minute of play, Seattle was awarded a penalty kick, with the centerback receiving a yellow card for his efforts. Lodeiro stepped up to the penalty spot, converting the attempt for his opening goal of the MLS season and his 34th regular-season strike in Rave Green.

The Uruguayan played the role of creator on Seattle’s second goal six minutes later, swinging in a long free kick to an onrushing Roldan, who headed the ball home at the near post to double Sounders FC’s advantage. The goal was Roldan’s first of the season and his 29th regular-season goal since joining Seattle in 2015.

San Jose pulled a goal back through Cristian Espinoza in first-half stoppage time, making the score 2-1 leading into the intermission. 

Morris helped the visitors reestablish a two-goal lead early in the second half, receiving a Lodeiro pass in front of goal and converting it past San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski in the 57th minute. The strike was Morris’s third of 2022 and his 37th regular-season goal overall, on a night when he made his 100th regular-season start for Sounders FC. It was also Lodeiro’s 62nd assist since joining the Rave Green in the summer of 2016, good enough for fourth all-time among active players.

However, San Jose scored back-to-back goals in consecutive minutes, with Espinoza claiming a second strike from distance in the 64th minute, followed by a Jackson Yueill goal just moments later. The deciding goal came via a penalty kick for the home side in the 94th minute after Nouhou committed a foul in the area. Espinoza secured his hat trick with the ensuing attempt, sending Stefan Frei the wrong way.

Following tonight’s match, Seattle returns to 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League action to take on Liga MX side Pumas UNAM in the first leg of the CCL Final at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City on Wednesday, April 27 (7:30 p.m. PT / FS1, TUDN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). The second leg will be played in Seattle the following Wednesday, May 4 at Lumen Field (7:00 p.m. PT / FS1, TUDN, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Tickets for the second leg at Lumen Field are still available via SoundersFC.com/Tickets.

MATCH NOTES

• With his goal from the penalty spot in the 14th minute of play, team captain Nico Lodeiro scored his first goal of the 2022 MLS season. Since joining Seattle in the summer transfer window of 2016, Lodeiro has 34 MLS regular-season goals in Rave Green.

• Lodeiro provided a signature set-piece assist in the 20th minute of play, finding an onrushing Cristian Roldan for Seattle’s second strike of the match. For the Uruguayan playmaker, the assist was the 61st of his MLS career (regular season).

• Earning a second assist on Jordan Morris’ goal in the 57th minute, Lodeiro is now fourth among active MLS players in assists (62). Only Sacha Kljestan (97), Graham Zusi (71) and Dax McCarty (66) have more.

• Jordan Morris made his 100th regular-season start on Saturday night in San Jose, recording a second-half goal. The strike was his 37th regular-season goal for Seattle dating back to 2016.

• Seattle’s road record in San Jose moves to 5-6-5 all-time. This was Seattle’s first loss at San Jose since 2014.

• Furthermore, it was the Rave Green’s first loss to the Bay Area side since June 20, 2016, a 2-0 defeat at Lumen Field.

• Coming into the match as a substitute in the 62nd minute of play, centerback Yeimar Gómez Andrade made his return from injury, appearing for the club for the first time since March 12 at Austin.

• Head Coach Brian Schmetzer rotated his squad significantly from last weekend, with today’s 4-2-3-1 formation including 10 changes to the starting XI that featured against Miami on April 16. Only Xavier Arreaga remained in the starting group.

• Sounders FC now turns its attention to Concacaf Champions League action, where it looks to become the first MLS team to ever win the intercontinental competition as it travels to Mexico City to take on Pumas UNAM in the first leg of the Final.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – San Jose Earthquakes 4

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Venue: PayPal Park

Referee: Ted Unkel

Assistants: Jeremy Hanson, Frank Anderson

Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis

VAR: Younes Marrakchi

Attendance: 12,467

Weather: 60 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Nico Lodeiro (penalty) 14’

SEA – Cristian Roldan (Nico Lodeiro) 20’

SJ – Cristian Espinoza 45’+2’

SEA – Jordan Morris (Nico Lodeiro, Raúl Ruidíaz) 57’

SJ – Cristian Espinoza (Jamiro Monteiro) 64’

SJ – Jackson Yueill (Jamiro Monteiro, Cristian Espinoza) 65’

SJ – Cristian Espinoza (penalty) 90’+4’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SJ – Nathan (caution) 11’

SJ – Eric Remedi (caution) 67’

SJ – Francisco Calvo (caution) 67’

SEA – Obed Vargas (caution) 83’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Xavier Arreaga (Yeimar 62’), Nouhou; João Paulo (Obed Vargas 75’), Albert Rusnák, Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro (Kelyn Rowe 83’), Jordan Morris (Jimmy Medranda 75’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Will Bruin 82’)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Josh Atencio, Fredy Montero

Total shots: 10

Shots on goal: 7

Fouls: 11

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 2

Saves: 3

San Jose Earthquakes – JT Marcinkowski; Paul Marie, Nathan, Marcos López (Tanner Beason 80’), Francisco Calvo; Eric Remedi, Jackson Yueill, Jan Gregus (Cade Cowell 62’), Jamrio Monteiro; Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse (Benji Kikanovic 89’)

Substitutes not used: Shea Salinas, Matt Bersano, Jack Skahan, Tommy Thompson, Oskar Agren, Ouseeni Bouda

Total shots: 23

Shots on goal: 7

Fouls: 10

Offside: 1

Corner-kicks: 6

Saves: 4