The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Wednesday night at Lumen Field behind an early second-half goal from Jeremy Ebobisse.
The ‘Quakes had a great early look when goalkeeper Stefan Frei pushed a shot from Paul Marie wide of the net in the sixth minute.
Alex Roldan picked up a yellow card in the 19th minute, which means he will miss Saturday’s clash with the Portland Timbers because of yellow-card accumulation. João Paulo missed Wednesday’s match against San Jose because of a suspension for yellow-card accumulation as well.
The Sounders’ best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute when Roldan picked out Héber on a back-shoulder run, but his shot was saved by Daniel.
San Jose had its best opportunity of the first half right on the brink of halftime when Ebobisse skied his free kick from 20 yards out at the top of the box.
The ‘Quakes found the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute when Ebobisse tapped in a Rodrigues header off a corner.
Léo Chú forced Daniel into a diving save in the 56th minute when his effort looking for the far post was pushed wide.
Raúl Ruidíaz hit a wicked half-volley in the 63rd minute, but Daniel dove to his right to parry it away.
Kelyn Rowe, who was making his first appearance since suffering a knee injury on April 29, unleashed a shot from distance in the 78th minute, but Daniel went down to grab it.
Ruidíaz nearly equalized in the second minute of stoppage time, but his one-timed shot off a Chú cross went wide.
Sounders FC & OL Reign Doubleheader
Two rivalry matches against Portland, one ticket. You won't want to miss the biggest PNW soccer event of the year!
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Ruidíaz returns
Ruidíaz came on in the 58th minute to make his first appearance since April 15 after recovering from a hamstring injury. He was on the matchday roster for Seattle’s win over the New York Red Bulls over the weekend but did not feature.
Only fifth goal allowed at home
Despite the loss, the Sounders allowed just their fifth goal at home in nine MLS matches. Frei is one away from his 100th career clean sheet.
Timbers match looms
The Sounders welcome their bitter rivals form the south to Lumen Field on Saturday (1:30 p.m. PT; FOX, Watch free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) as part of a doubleheader with OL Reign and the Portland Thorns. Seattle fell 4-1 at Providence Park in the teams’ first meeting in April.
