Sounders vs Terremotos de SJ: Resumen

In a thrilling MLS encounter at Lumen Field, the Seattle Sounders FC edged past San Jose Earthquakes with a hard-fought 3-2 victory that kept over 30,000 fans on the edge of their seats throughout the ninety minutes. The July 19th clash delivered everything soccer enthusiasts could hope for—momentum swings, spectacular goals, and nail-biting drama until the final whistle.

The match began with both sides showing attacking intent, but it was the visitors who struck first when Preston Judd capitalized on Jamar Ricketts' clever assist in the 26th minute. The Sounders' response was immediate and emphatic, with substitute Danny Musovski—who had entered the fray early following Jordan Morris' injury—leveling the score just two minutes later, courtesy of a well-worked move involving Albert Rusnák and Obed Vargas.

The second half saw Seattle shift into a higher gear when Musovski completed his brace in the 54th minute, finishing off a slick combination between Pedro de la Vega and Cristian Roldan. The Earthquakes refused to surrender, however, with Cristian "Chicho" Arango restoring parity in the 64th minute. But it was Pedro de la Vega who would have the final say, unleashing a stunning long-range strike five minutes later that ultimately decided the contest.

Despite San Jose's desperate late push, including Cristian Espinoza's free-kick that rattled the crossbar and a spectacular bicycle kick attempt from Josef Martínez that was brilliantly saved by Andrew Thomas, the Sounders held firm to secure all three points.

This victory carries significant weight for Brian Schmetzer's men, extending their unbeaten run to five games and finally breaking the Earthquakes' seven-game undefeated streak against them in league play. Additionally, Seattle claimed the Heritage Cup, honoring both clubs' NASL history. In terms of the MLS standings, the result propels the Sounders to fifth place in the Western Conference with 37 points from 23 games, while Bruce Arena's San Jose side remains in tenth position with 29 points.

"I'm incredibly proud of the character we showed today," stated Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer. "To lose Jordan early and still find a way to win against a team that's had our number recently speaks volumes about our squad depth and mentality. Danny stepped up magnificently, and Pedro's winner was simply world-class. This is the kind of performance that can define a season."

"We had enough chances to take something from this game," lamented San Jose Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena. "Credit to Seattle—they were clinical when it mattered. But I saw plenty of positive signs from my players, especially in how we responded after falling behind. This is a difficult place to play, and we proved we can compete with anyone in this league. We'll regroup and be ready for Salt Lake next weekend."

"Coming off the bench early isn't easy, but I'm always ready to contribute," said Seattle's two-goal hero Danny Musovski. "The team needed a spark after going behind, and I'm just happy I could provide that. Pedro's winner was something special—that's the quality he brings. We're building momentum at the right time of the season."

"It's frustrating to score twice away from home and leave with nothing," admitted Earthquakes captain Cristian Espinoza. "That free-kick at the end... I thought it was in. Sometimes football can be cruel, but we'll learn from this. Our unbeaten run against Seattle had to end sometime, but we showed we can create problems for any defense in this league."

"What impressed me most about Seattle today was their resilience," commented former MLS star and current analyst Alexi Lalas. "Going behind early, losing Morris, yet they never panicked. Schmetzer's substitutions were spot on, and de la Vega's winner will be in the conversation for goal of the season. This result could be the catalyst Seattle needs to make a serious playoff push."

Possession: Seattle Sounders FC 53% - 47% San Jose Earthquakes

Shots (On Target): Seattle Sounders FC 15 (7) - 13 (6) San Jose Earthquakes

Corners: Seattle Sounders FC 8 - 5 San Jose Earthquakes

Fouls: Seattle Sounders FC 11 - 14 San Jose Earthquakes

Yellow Cards: Seattle Sounders FC 2 (Rusnák, Gómez) - 3 San Jose Earthquakes (Romney, Kaye, Arango)

Red Cards: Seattle Sounders FC 0 - 0 San Jose Earthquakes

Saves: Seattle Sounders FC 4 (Thomas) - 4 San Jose Earthquakes (Daniel)

Expected Goals (xG): Seattle Sounders FC 2.3 - 2.1 San Jose Earthquakes

Individual Performances:

Danny Musovski (Seattle): 2 goals, 3 shots on target, 29 touches, 89% pass completion

Pedro de la Vega (Seattle): 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 key passes, 2 successful dribbles

Cristian Roldan (Seattle): 1 assist, 57 touches, 91% pass completion, 8 recoveries

Albert Rusnák (Seattle): 1 assist, 3 key passes, 62 touches, 2 shots

Preston Judd (San Jose): 1 goal, 2 shots on target, 31 touches

Cristian Espinoza (San Jose): 4 key passes, 5 crosses, 2 shots on target, 73 touches

Jamar Ricketts (San Jose): 1 assist, 3 tackles, 44 touches, 1 interception

Cristian Arango (San Jose): 1 goal, 3 shots, 42 touches, 1 aerial duel won

The statistics highlight Seattle's slight edge in possession and attacking output, which ultimately translated to their narrow victory. Both teams generated quality scoring opportunities as evidenced by their comparable expected goals figures, but the Sounders demonstrated greater efficiency in the final third. Pedro de la Vega's creative influence was particularly notable, while Cristian Espinoza emerged as San Jose's primary playmaker despite ending on the losing side.

26' GOAL (0-1) - San Jose takes the lead against the run of play. Jamar Ricketts delivers a precise through ball that splits Seattle's defense, allowing Preston Judd to time his run perfectly and slot a composed finish past Andrew Thomas into the bottom corner.

28' GOAL (1-1) - Immediate response from Seattle! Albert Rusnák's clever ball finds Obed Vargas advancing into the box, who squares it first-time for Danny Musovski to tap in from close range. The substitute, who replaced the injured Jordan Morris just 12 minutes earlier, makes an instant impact.

45+2' CHANCE - San Jose nearly regains the lead just before halftime when Cristian Espinoza's inswinging corner creates havoc in Seattle's box. Mark-Anthony Kaye's header forces a spectacular reflex save from Thomas.

54' GOAL (2-1) - Seattle completes the turnaround! Pedro de la Vega showcases his dribbling skills on the left flank before cutting inside and finding Cristian Roldan. The midfielder's first-time pass releases Musovski, who calmly slots past Daniel for his second goal of the evening.

64' GOAL (2-2) - The Earthquakes refuse to surrender! Following a sustained period of pressure, Cristian "Chicho" Arango equalizes with a clinical header from Espinoza's pinpoint cross, silencing the Lumen Field crowd momentarily.

69' GOAL (3-2) - A moment of pure magic from Pedro de la Vega! The Argentine winger receives the ball 25 yards from goal, takes one touch to set himself, and unleashes an unstoppable strike that swerves into the top corner. A genuine contender for goal of the season that sends the Seattle faithful into raptures.

90+3' WOODWORK - Agonizingly close for San Jose! Cristian Espinoza's perfectly executed free-kick from 22 yards beats Thomas but crashes against the crossbar. Seattle survives as the ball bounces clear.

90+5' SAVE - Last-gasp drama! Josef Martínez attempts an acrobatic bicycle kick from inside the area, but Andrew Thomas produces a stunning save at full stretch to preserve Seattle's lead and secure all three points for the home side.

The rivalry between Seattle Sounders FC and San Jose Earthquakes represents one of the longest-standing matchups in MLS, dating back to their shared NASL heritage—a connection commemorated by the annual Heritage Cup competition between these sides.

Prior to this encounter, San Jose had enjoyed a remarkable seven-game unbeaten streak against Seattle in league play, a surprising dominance considering the Sounders' generally stronger overall record in recent years. This victory finally broke that curse for Seattle, giving them their first league win against the Earthquakes since September 2021.

The all-time MLS head-to-head record now stands at 15 wins for Seattle, 13 for San Jose, and 10 draws. At Lumen Field specifically, Seattle has now recorded 10 victories against 5 defeats and 4 draws when hosting the Earthquakes—maintaining their historical home advantage despite recent struggles against this particular opponent.

In terms of scoring patterns, matches between these teams have historically produced goals, with only two of their last 15 encounters ending goalless. Today's five-goal thriller continued that trend, raising the average goals per game in this fixture to 3.1 over their last ten meetings.

Individual battles shaped the contest's narrative, particularly the duel between Seattle's Cristian Roldan and San Jose's Mark-Anthony Kaye in midfield. Roldan's ability to progress the ball and connect with Seattle's attacking players ultimately gave the Sounders an edge in transition moments. Similarly, the matchup between Seattle's Yeimar Gómez and San Jose's Cristian Arango proved pivotal, with Arango managing to find the net despite Gómez's generally solid defensive performance.

Perhaps most significantly, Seattle's emergency adjustment following Jordan Morris's early injury—introducing Danny Musovski—proved unexpectedly decisive, with the substitute scoring twice. This tactical adaptation by Brian Schmetzer highlighted the Sounders' superior depth compared to their California rivals.

With Seattle now holding the 2025 Heritage Cup, this historic rivalry enters a new chapter as both teams position themselves for the MLS playoff push in the coming months.

Western Conference Standings (After July 19, 2025 matches)

1. Los Angeles FC - 44 points (22 games)
2. Real Salt Lake - 41 points (23 games)
3. Vancouver Whitecaps - 40 points (22 games)
4. Colorado Rapids - 38 points (23 games)
5. Seattle Sounders FC - 37 points (23 games) ↑1
6. Minnesota United - 36 points (22 games) ↓1
7. FC Dallas - 32 points (23 games)
8. Portland Timbers - 31 points (22 games)
9. LA Galaxy - 30 points (21 games)
10. San Jose Earthquakes - 29 points (24 games) ↓1

Following their crucial victory over San Jose, the Seattle Sounders FC have climbed one position to fifth place in the Western Conference with 37 points from 23 matches. With 11 games remaining in their regular season campaign, Brian Schmetzer's side has strengthened their playoff position and now sits just seven points behind conference leaders Los Angeles FC with a game in hand.

The Sounders' current form—unbeaten in five matches (3-0-2)—suggests they're hitting their stride at an opportune moment. If they maintain this momentum, they have a realistic chance of securing a top-four finish, which would grant them home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes have dropped to tenth place following this defeat, hovering just outside the playoff positions with 29 points from 24 games. Bruce Arena's team now faces increased pressure to deliver results in their remaining fixtures, particularly against direct competitors for postseason berths. Their next match against seventh-placed Real Salt Lake takes on added significance as they attempt to reignite their playoff push.

With the MLS regular season entering its final third, both teams remain in contention for the playoffs, but Seattle's position looks considerably more secure following this result.