Sounders go top four with win over Quakes

Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 San Jose Earthquakes

SEATTLE, WA–Both the Sounders and Quakes were rewinding things to the mid-1990s. The Sounders were once again in their “Orca kits” which date back to their time in the old A-League (now USL Championship) while the San Jose Earthquakes were in their “rewind kits” dating back to the time they were the San Jose Clash at the start of Major League Soccer.

Much like most things in the 1990s, it was a high-energy affair that ended in Seattle’s favor with a 3-2 victory. The Sounders jump ahead of LAFC in the Western Conference table after the latter drew 3-3 against LA Galaxy and are now unbeaten in five league matches. The Quakes are now winless in five and are just one point above the playoff line.

Additionally, the Sounders ended a seven-match winless streak against the Quakes and reclaimed the Heritage Cup honoring both teams’ time when they first met in the original North American Soccer League.

The Quakes got on the board first in the 26th minute. Jamar Ricketts made a run down the left flank and sent a low cross into the box where Preston Judd turned it in for the opening score. The lead would last just two minutes, though, as Albert Rusnak’s diagonal into the box was headed in by Danny Musovsky, who had come into the match just 12 minutes earlier for an injured Jordan Morris.

Jordan Morris is due to have surgery on his injured shoulder on Tuesday (Photo: Nate Koppelman).

Morris had injured his acromioclavicular joint (AC joint) in a 12th minute collision with Quakes keeper Daniel. Morris will undergo shoulder surgery on Tuesday.

Photo: Paul Kahl

Musovsky would head in his and Seattle’s second of the evening in the 54th minute, giving the Sounders the lead. Pedro de la Vega sent in the cross after receiving a long ball from Cristian Roldan. However, the Quakes would respond ten minutes later as Chicho Arango pounced on a rebound off a free kick after Andrew Thomas had initially made the save on Preston Judd.

Parity would last for just five minutes, though, as de la Vega called his own number and scored from 25 yards out past Daniel to make it 3-2. The Quakes had one last chance off a free kick, but Cristian Espinoza shot it off the post while Josef Martinez would be denied by Thomas.

The Sounders travel to Atlanta next Saturday to take on Atlanta United (4:30pm PT, Apple TV), while the Quakes travel to Utah to play Real Salt Lake (6:30pm PT, Apple TV).

Photos by Nate Koppelman and Paul Kahl