SEATTLE – The San Jose Earthquakes knocked off the Seattle Sounders at their own house for the second time in 2015 on Saturday afternoon, riding a pair of nifty goals from Sanna Nyassi and Matias Perez Garcia to a 2-0 victory at CenturyLink Field.
The result continued a string of strong play against Seattle for San Jose. Coupling Saturday’s victory with the Earthquakes’ 3-2 triumph over the Sounders on March 14, San Jose are now a convincing 8-2-1 in matches against Seattle since 2012.
Lamar Neagle – starting as Seattle’s lone striker without Clint Dempsey (suspension) and Obafemi Martins (groin injury) – almost gave the Sounders the lead in the 13th minute after teeing up a long-distance attempt from 30 yards out. However, the look was thwarted by San Jose ‘keeper David Bingham, who made a leaping deflection to keep the game scoreless.
San Jose jumped on top in the 28th minute after Nyassi managed to control a Perez Garcia pass and free himself up in Seattle’s penalty box wide of the Sounders backline. The former Sounder took one touch before rifling his attempt just past the outstretched arm of a diving Stefan Frei and into the top corner of the net, giving San Jose a 1-0 advantage.
Seattle had a great look at an equalizer in the 34th minute after midfielder Andy Rose latched on to a cross from Marco Pappa. But Bingham was able to come through once again, making a nice reaction save to deny Rose and allow the ‘Quakes to take their lead into the locker room at halftime.
The ‘Quakes doubled the lead in the 73rd minute after Perez Garcia danced his way through three Seattle defenders before placing his left-footed finish past Frei and into the upper corner to ice the road victory.
With the loss, the Sounders fall to 9-5-2 ahead of next week’s Wednesday evening showdown against the Philadelphia Union. San Jose improve to 6-5-4 and will look to keep the momentum of the victory afloat for their next game, a California Clasico home date next weekend with the LA Galaxy.
