AUSTIN, Texas — The San Jose Earthquakes drew with Austin FC 1-1 on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium in Major League Soccer regular-season play.
The Earthquakes opened the score in the eighth minute when Niko Tsakiris took a pass in the left half-space from Beau Leroux at the edge of the box, then laid it off for Leroux, who sauntered a few steps and slid a low shot for the far post. The ball rolled by Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. The hosts
quickly answered when Besard Sabović connected with Facundo Torres in the opposing box two minutes later, but the goal was eventually called back as the VAR review ruled handball on the latter before he netted.
The Black and Blue defense immediately clamped down the remaining 35 minutes and did not concede a single shot on goal for the third straight half.
After intermission, Austin searched for the equalizer in minute 77 when Torres found himself alone in the box, but Quakes goalkeeper Angus Gunn denied him with a kick save to preserve the lead. However, in the waning moments of stoppage time, Brandon Vazquez headed a ball toward Christian Ramirez, who passed to his left
in the box to an open Guilherme Biro for the finish for the final 1-1 margin.
The Quakes move to fifth place in the Western Conference (10-8-5, 35 points), while Austin remains in 14th (6-10-7, 25 points).
The full “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s match is scheduled to air Wednesday, Sept. 9, 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. 11, on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT.
The Black and Blue will complete their three-game road trip against San Diego FC on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Kickoff from Snapdragon Stadium is slated for 7:30 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).
ALL-TIME: The Quakes ran their unbeaten streak to three vs. Verde after winning their last two regular-season meetings, both at PayPal Park (2-1 on Oct. 18, 2025, and 5-1 on April 22). However, they are still seeking their first win in Austin since Q2 Stadium’s inaugural season on Sept. 18, 2021 (4-3). In MLS play, San Jose is 4-2-7 (29 GF, 22 GA) vs. Austin and 1-2-4 (14 GF, 16 GA) on the road.
ON THE TABLE: The Earthquakes are now fifth in the Western Conference (10-8-5, 35 points; 40 GF, 34 GA), while Austin remains 14th (6-10-7, 25 points; 29 GF, 42 GA).
BUY DOMESTIC: The Quakes started seven 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).
LAST-MINUTE SWITCH: Paul Marie was injured in pregame warmups and was replaced in the starting lineup by Benji Kikanović.
BEAU KNOWS GOALS: Beau Leroux’s eighth-minute goal was his fourth in MLS play this season and ninth career league goal. It was also his first one inside the box, as his previous three were all long-range bombs from outside the 18.
NIKO’S BACK: Niko Tsakiris’ eighth-minute assist was his team-leading eighth in MLS play this season and 11th career league assist. Tsakiris now has four career goal contributions (1g/3a) against Austin in league play. It was also his first goal contribution since returning to the lineup on Aug. 15 due to a groin injury that sidelined him for seven matches.
SERIAL THREATS: Beau Leroux became the 11th current Quake to have collected at least one goal contribution against Austin in MLS play, with Benji Kikanović, Preston Judd and Paul Marie scoring twice each. However, Marie also has an additional four assists over nine games vs. Verde to make six total GCs (2g/4a). Newly acquired Eduard Löwen also has six GCs vs. ATX (1g/5a).
PICK YOUR POISON: Eight different Quakes have two or more goals in MLS play (Preston Judd, Beau Leroux, Niko Tsakiris, Ousseni Bouda, Daniel Munie, Reid Roberts, Jack Skahan, Timo Werner) while 10 different Quakes have two or more assists (Bouda, Beau Leroux, Nick Fernandez, Judd, Paul Marie, Munie, Jamar Ricketts, Skahan, Tsakiris and Werner).
Austin FC 1 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 — Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
Weather: 92°F Partly Cloudy
Attendance: 20,738
*all stats unofficial
Match Officials:
Referee: Sergii Boiko
AR1: Brian Dunn
AR2: Ben Pilgrim
4th Official: Ismail Elfath
VAR: David Barrie
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Scoring Summary:
SJ – Beau Leroux (Niko Tsakiris) 8’
ATX – Guilherme Biro (Christian Ramirez) 90+7’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Reid Roberts (caution) 65’
ATX – Brad Stuver (caution) 87’
AUSTIN FC: Brad Stuver (GK) (C); Mikel Desler (Brendan Hines-Ike 75’), Oleksandr Svatok (Jonathan Bell 61’), Guilherme Biro; Facundo Torres, Besard Sabovic, Jorge Alastuey (Christian Ramirez 70’), Ervin Torres; Jon Gallagher (Žan Kolmanič, 61’), Brandon Vazquwez, Joseph Rosales (Przemyslaw Placheta 70’).
Substitutes not used: Damian Las (GK), Micah Burton, Mateja Djordjević, Jonathan Bell, Jon Gallagher, Mateja Djordjevic, Ilie Sanchez.
POSS.: 55.7%; SHOTS: 14; SOG: 3; CORNERS: 7; OFFSIDES: 3; SAVES: 3; FOULS: 10; xG: 1.1
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Angus Gunn (GK); Jamar Ricketts (Vítor Costa 81’), Reid Roberts, Daniel Munie, Max Floriani, Benji Kikanović (Jack Jasinski 81’); Beau Leroux, Ronaldo Vieira (C), Eduard Löwen (Nick Fernandez 88’), Niko Tsakiris; Ousseni Bouda (Preston Judd 70’).
Substitutes not used: Francesco Montali (GK), Luka Jovanović, Dave Romney, Jack Skahan.
POSS.: 44.3%; SHOTS: 10; SOG: 4; CORNERS: 7; OFFSIDES: 0; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 11; xG: 2.0
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On dropping points in the waning seconds of the game:
“We’ve wasted too many games this year at the end. We should’ve had three points at home against the LA Galaxy and missed a penalty kick in the closing minutes. We conceded a goal in the closing minutes at LA. We conceded one tonight. We’d be in much better shape. The lesson to learn is how to close a game. To our guys’ credit, they came off with draws which is a positive against teams playing pretty well. Got a good effort out of the guys tonight. Disappointed with the fact we couldn’t close it out, and maybe that’s something we can learn. ... Overall tonight the effort was good. We’re going to get a good effort in San Diego and again against Houston next Saturday.”
On areas for improvement:
“There are positives to take out tonight. Don’t get me wrong. To be a really good team, we need to close that game out. Maybe I need to do a better job with the group with coaching them and making it clear how we need to close the games out. I need to do a better job with substitutions as well, so it’s not just the players. The coach needs to do a better job as well.”
On Ousseni Bouda playing the striker position:
“Well, he played a solid game tonight. I think the center back he played against did a good job. He’s probably better suited as a wide attacker. We know that, but he’s a good option as a No. 9 as well. He’ll get better. He’s just got to keep working at it. He has to be a little better holding the ball up, but he had some good moments tonight.”
EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER NIKO TSAKIRIS
On recording this team-leading eighth assist and first since his return from injury:
“Listen, we’re just going to keep going. My assist to Beau [Leroux] was obviously great for him to get his goal and put the team in the position that we were up until the final moment of the match, but it’s another moment for us and we look forward to Wednesday.”
On if he feels fully recuperated from groin surgery that caused him to miss seven games:
“I’m feeling 100%, no question. The staff has done a great job with me integrating me slowly with managing my minutes and managing my load. Obviously with the weather and back-to-back Texas games can kind of take a lot away from the legs, but the staff has done a great job with getting me back.”
On rebuilding the chemistry to where it was the first half of the season:
“It’s getting there. That’s obviously going to take time, and I knew that was going to take time coming back. I think that game by game, that connection is going to continue to grow, so hopefully that continues to get better