The Seattle Sounders defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 in a back-and-forth affair at Lumen Field on Saturday night. Danny Musovski recorded a brace and Pedro de le Vega added another for the Sounders, while Preston Judd and Chicho Arango tallied for the visitors.
Jordan Morris had the game’s first opportunity inside the first minute when he was sprung in behind and got a shot off from the right side that beat goalkeeper Daniel but just missed wide of the near post.
San Jose had a dangerous chance in the 10th minute when Cristian Espinoza whipped in a cross to the six-yard box where Judd dove for a header that forced Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas into a diving save to his right.
Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer was forced into an early substitution in the 15th minute when Morris collided with Daniel and landed awkwardly. Morris was replaced by Musovski.
Albert Rusnák looked close to opening the scoring in the 23rd minute when Obed Vargas set up the Slovakian with a dropped pass from 15 yards out, but his shot went over the crossbar.
The ‘Quakes found the breakthrough in the 26th minute when Jamar Ricketts created space on the left flank and sent a hard, low cross to the near post where Judd redirected it past Thomas.
San Jose’s lead lasted less than two minutes when Rusnák played in a beautiful cross for Musovski, who rose for a header and beat defender Dave Romney as well as an onrushing Daniel.
The Sounders were inches away from taking the lead in the 32nd minute when Jesús Ferreira picked out Jon Bell after a recycled corner kick, and the center back’s header rattled the near post.
Rusnák forced Daniel into a difficult save in the third minute of first-half stoppage time as he took a shot on a half-volley looking to slide it into the near post, but Daniel got down quickly to deny the effort.
Seattle took the lead in the 54th minute when Cristian Roldan played a wonderfully clipped in ball behind the defense to de la Vega, who picked out Musovski at the far post for a header and his second goal of the match.
San Jose leveled the match in the 64th minute after Thomas made a huge diving save on a header from Judd off a free kick from Espinoza, but Arango was there on the doorstep to clean up the rebound.
Seattle restored its advantage five minutes later when de la Vega went 1-v-1 down the left wing, beat his man to the inside and unleashed a rocket to the far post that left Daniel with no chance.
The Sounders had two incredible opportunities in the 81st minute. Reed Baker-Whiting looked to have found the top corner, but Daniel stretched to parry it away. On the ensuing play, Rusnák appeared to be in on goal, but Daniel got down low to deflect it out for a corner.
The Earthquakes were inches away from equalizing yet again in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Espinoza's free kick from 25 yards out rang the crossbar. Josef Martínez attempted an overhead kick off a recycled cross that Thomas kept out with a brilliant reaction save, despite Martínez ultimately being whistled offside.
San Jose had one final effort in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Paul Marie stretched for a cross at the far post and redirected it across goal, but Thomas got down to his right to corral it.
The Sounders finish the match fourth in the Western Conference table with 37 points from 23 matches. Seattle will head cross-country next Saturday for an Eastern Conference clash with Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Super sub
Musovski started the match on the bench, but after an impromptu entrance in game’s opening quarter-hour, he finished with his seventh and eighth goals on the season, good for second on the team.
De la Vega shows out in style
The Argentine Designated Player scored his second goal of the season, and first since April 19, with a golazo that proved to be the match-winner. He also provided an assist, his fourth of the campaign.
Unbeaten run reaches five
Since their foray into the FIFA Club World Cup, the Sounders are undefeated in their five matches since returning to MLS play (3-0-2).
