MLS Regular Season
Score: Sounders FC 0 vs San Jose Earthquakes 2
Goal-scorers: Sanna Nyassi (28’), Matias Perez Garcia (74’)
Site: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
Man of the Match: Micheal Azira was placed squarely in the Sounders engine room for this one and provided a number of quality tackles without Ozzie Alonso and Gonzalo Pineda in the starting XI. His distribution was also solid throughout and he remains an extremely viable option in the center of midfield.
Telling Stat: Of the Sounders’ five losses on the year through 16 matches, two of them have been against the San Jose Earthquakes and both have come at home. Early in the season, the two clubs met at CenturyLink Field with the California side taking a 3-2 result from the Rave Green. They don’t meet again until September when the Sounders will make their first-ever trip to Avaya Stadium.
What You Missed: Not much. The Sounders only managed three shots on target with a number of their key players missing for the match. Ozzie Alonso, Obafemi Martins and Chad Barrett are all out with injuries while Clint Dempsey is suspended for the next two matches.
Thomás made his second start for the club and was one of the more lively players on the pitch. Rookie midfielder Cristian Roldan played his first true minutes in the center of midfield with Andy Rose pushed out wide.
So What: The Sounders are off to the East Coast this week with a date at the Philadelphia Union on the cards for Wednesday. The last time the teams met at PPL Park, the two clubs drew 2-2. Following that, it’s south down I-5 to take on the Portland Timbers at Providence Park.
Despite the result against San Jose, the team remains in first place in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with a host of clubs in action throughout the rest of the weekend.
