HOUSTON — The San Jose Earthquakes drew with Houston Dynamo FC 0-0 on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium in Major League Soccer regular-season play.
Playing with a three-man back line for the first time this season, the Earthquakes threatened first in minute 14. Paul Marie stole the ball in the right half-space and served a low cross for Ousseni Bouda, but the center forward’s sweeping attempt was jumped on by Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. In the 32nd minute, Jamar Ricketts skillfully hauled in a long ball on the left touchline at full speed and then pushed forward before his low cross for Bouda was cleared at the last moment by the Dynamo’s Antonio Carlos. In the 41st minute, San Jose defender Dave Romney slipped in his own end but sprinted and tracked down Houston’s Mateusz Bogusz in the box, sliding and poking the ball away before a shot could be attempted. The half ended scoreless.
After intermission, the Earthquakes stayed dangerous. Newly acquired midfielder Eduard Löwen uncorked a shot from the edge of the box that forced Bond to make a diving save in minute 57. Bouda and Niko Tsakiris almost connected moments later but the shot sailed over the crossbar. In the 77th minute, the ball ricocheted to Nick Fernandez in the box but his right-footed attempt was batted away by Bond. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, the Quakes had one last chance but hit the crossbar off a corner kick. The back line held strong through the final whistle and kept Houston from attempting a single shot on goal as goalkeeper Angus Gunn earned his first-ever clean sheet with San Jose.
The draw snaps a four-game losing streak for San Jose and keeps the Quakes in fourth place in the Western Conference (10-8-4, 34 points), while Houston remains in second (12-7-3, 39 points).
The full “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s match is scheduled to air Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 8 p.m. PT on KTVU Plus. For highlights, analysis and features, fans can also watch the new half-hour magazine show “Quakes Exclusive” on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. PT on KTVU FOX 2 and the FOX Local app, as well as an encore presentation on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT.
The Black and Blue will continue MLS regular-season play on the road against Austin FC on Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff from Q2 Stadium is slated for 5:30 p.m. PT with the match to be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
ALL-TIME: The Earthquakes have extended their unbeaten streak in league play to three against Houston after an unbeaten two games against the Dynamo last year (3-3 draw at home, 2-1 win on road). Therefore, tonight also marks their second straight result at Shell Energy Stadium. In the all-time series with the Dynamo, San Jose is 11-19-6 (46 GF, 57 GA) and 3-13-2 away (19 GF, 36 GA).
ON THE TABLE: The Earthquakes are still fourth in the Western Conference (10-8-4, 34 points; 39 GF, 33 GA), while Houston remains second (12-7-3, 39 points; 30 GF, 26 GA) after tonight.
YOU SHALL NOT PASS: The Earthquakes conceded zero shots on goal among Houston’s nine total shots, tying a club record. Prior to tonight, the last time San Jose held an opponent to zero shots on goal was March 11, 2023, vs. the Colorado Rapids.
BUY DOMESTIC: The Quakes started six American players tonight. No team in MLS has averaged more of them in the starting 11 more across all competitions in 2026 than Bruce Arena’s Earthquakes (7.4/game). Arena also started seven former college players tonight; no team in MLS has more of them on the roster (19).
MENTOR vs. MENTEE: San Jose Head Coach Bruce Arena once recruited his Houston counterpart Ben Olsen to the University of Virginia as a player and coached him on both D.C. United (1998) and the USMNT (1998-2006). Today, Arena is MLS’ all-time leader in regular-season wins among head coaches (283), while Olsen is seventh (163).
ROAD WARRIORS: Only Inter Miami CF (8-2-2) has more road wins than the Quakes (6-3-2). The club record for road wins is nine, set by the 2012 Supporters’ Shield winners.
GUNN’S UP: Goalkeeper Angus Gunn earned his first clean sheet with San Jose. It was the team’s first clean sheet in league play since April 4 (3-0 over San Diego FC).
I’M LÖWEN IT: The Quakes traded $425,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money (GAM) plus add-ons to St. Louis for German international midfielder Eduard Löwen. The 29-year-old playmaker is San Jose’s second Designated Player alongside countryman Timo Werner after three and a half seasons with St. Louis’ first team, amassing 20 goals and 27 assists. Defensively he’s having his best year with 71.2% aerial duels won. Löwen started in his Earthquakes debut, unleashing a shot on goal.
SPEED DEMONS: Daniel Munie, coming off his first MLS All-Star Game appearance, is tied for seventh in terms of top speed among all MLS players at 22.36 mph, with Jamar Ricketts is sixth at 22.47 mph. Munie’s speed is the fastest among center backs in MLS. Ricketts’ and Munie’s figures also put them among MLS’ fastest defenders. Houston has two fleet-footed players of their own in Guilherme (fifth, 22.6 mph) and Lawrence Ennali (14th, 22.34 mph). Sporting Kansas City's Capita Capemba leads the league with a top speed of 23.00 mph.
CONNECTED FOREVER: The original Earthquakes MLS franchise (1996-2005) moved to Houston in 2006 and became the Dynamo. When a new ownership group led by current Managing Partner John Fisher (along with plans to build PayPal Park) was secured, a new MLS iteration of the Earthquakes (keeping their history and records intact) was born in 2008.
BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN: Current Houston GM Pat Onstad is one of many who enjoyed a decorated playing career for both clubs due to the franchise moving from San Jose to Houston. He first won the 2003 MLS Cup and 2005 Supporters’ Shield along with MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors both of those seasons with San Jose, before going on to win the 2006 and 2007 MLS Cups with the Dynamo. MLS all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski is another example of a legend who won hardware with both clubs (2005 and 2012 Supporters’ Shield with San Jose, 2006 and 2007 MLS Cups with Houston).
DOWN THE STREET: Houston goalkeeper Blake Gillingham was born in San Jose and attended Bellarmine College Prep, just a five-minute drive from PayPal Park. His older brother Brandon even played for the Burlingame Dragons, the Quakes’ now defunct Under-23 team in the old Premier Development League (now USL League Two).
Houston Dynamo FC 0 – 0 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 — Shell Energy Stadium; Houston
Weather: 92°F Sunny
Attendance: 20,308
*all stats unofficial
Match Officials:
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière
AR1: Micheal Barwegen
AR2: Tyler Wyrostek
4th Official: Alejo Calume
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Jeff Muschik
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Reid Roberts (caution) 58’
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC: Jonathan Bond (GK); Franco Negri (Ibrahim Aliyu 61’), Antonio Carlos, Artur (C), Agustin Resch, Felipe Andrade (Duane Holmes 83’); Jack McGlynn (Agustin Bouzat 90+1’), Lawrence Ennali, Hector Herrera (Duncan McGuire 75’); Mateusz Bogusz, Guilherme.
Substitutes not used: Blake Gillingham (GK), Nick Markanich, Diadie Samassekou, Erik Sviatchenko, Sam Vines.
POSS.: 47.9%; SHOTS: 9; SOG: 0; CORNERS: 7; OFFSIDES: 1; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 8; xG: 0,6
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Angus Gunn (GK); Jamar Ricketts (Jack Jasinski 82’), Reid Roberts, Dave Romney (Max Floriani 69’), Daniel Munie, Paul Marie (Preston Judd 73’); Beau Leroux (Nick Fernandez 73’), Ronaldo Vieira (C), Eduard Löwen (Vítor Costa 90+1’), Niko Tsakiris (Ian Harkes 90+1’); Ousseni Bouda.
Substitutes not used: Francesco Montali (GK), Luka Jovanović, Jack Skahan.
POSS.: 52.1%; SHOTS: 12; SOG: 4; CORNERS: 4; OFFSIDES: 0; SAVES: 0; FOULS: 9; xG: 1.5
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On facing Houston Dynamo FC tonight:
“Our team played well. We're right in the thick of things at this point. It’s all part of an MLS season. There's no teams in this league that are superior to anybody. The teams that people envision are at the bottom can beat anybody. That's MLS.”
On the change in formation tonight:
“I think the formation helped us. It made us a little bit more solid in the central parts of midfield, and I think the effort by the guys and the understanding was very good.”
On the debut of Eduard Löwen and his adaptation to the midfield:
“He's a good player—experienced player, solid on the ball. He's had some limited minutes lately, and I think as we continue to move forward, he's going to do fine for us.”
“I think we did well. It's going to take a little time. Niko [Tsakiris] is still coming back and getting in form as well. It was good to get [Ronaldo] Vieira back on the field tonight. I thought the midfield looked pretty good.”
EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER/CAPTAIN RONALDO VIEIRA
On the team’s performance tonight:
“I think we played a very smart game today, being away from home. Now we just have to move on from this—take the positives from this game and start preparing for the next game in Austin. We always want to win the game, but it's not always possible. So we take the best result we can, and we'll see where that gets us.”
On the defense clamping down on Houston and conceding zero shots on goal:
“We had a very good week of training this week I felt like everybody was prepared coming into this game. As you saw, we didn't give up a shot on goal, and I think that's also because our defense was very compact and organized tonight.”
On the debut of Eduard Löwen:
“He's a very experienced player. I could see this from the first training he did with us. I could see how he knows when to go and press and when to just cut the passing lanes, which I think is what got us to where we are today.”
“He's also funny when he needs to be, but serious when he needs to be. He integrated himself into the group this week really well. We had to change the formation a little bit today, but Eduard was able to integrate himself into the group well.”