TUCSON, Ariz. – The San Jose Earthquakes dropped their first preseason game 2-1 against Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.
Seattle tallied twice in the first half and the Earthquakes pulled one back late in the second. Nigerian Designated Player Obafemi Martins had both goals for Seattle while Mike Fucito found the net for San Jose.
Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi nearly opened the scoring in the 24th minute. The French midfielder made a darting run through the middle of the box and nodded a Sam Garza free kick toward the far post. However, Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei leapt and batted the net-bound shot out for a corner.
Seattle found the scoreboard in the 27th minute as Martins tapped home a shot in front of goal. Jalil Anibaba sent a long throw into the box where Andy Rose contested for the header with the resulting loose ball falling to the feet of Martins on the doorstep.
Martins doubled his tally two minutes later with a header from close range. Dylan Remick sent a cross to Rose, who was open on the far side of the box. Rose headed a pass into the six-yard box to Martins for the goal.
San Jose had a chance to pull one back in the 81st minute after a string of passes led to a shot from the top of the box. Rookie trialist A.J. Corrado sent a pass across the top that Atiba Harris laid off for JJ Koval. The Stanford graduate targeted the lower corner, but Frei was there to make a diving save.
The Earthquakes broke through in the 86th minute with Fucito providing the finish. German trialist Andreas Gorlitz picked out Atiba Harris open in the box. Harris traded passes with Fucito, eventually springing the forward for a shot from 10 yards out.
Fucito nearly tied the game moments later after Harris slipped a pass between the Seattle backline. Fucito cut back and curled a shot for the far corner, but misfired high.
The Earthquakes wrap up their preseason trip to Tucson with a match against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at the Kino Sports Complex. Kickoff is 2 p.m. PT with a livestream available at www.sjearthquakes.com.
