Earthquakes answer late Seattle equalizer, earn first win of season

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jeremy Ebobisse came off the bench to score one minute after Danny Musovski pulled Seattle even late in the second half, rallying the San Jose Earthquakes to a 3-2 victory over the Sounders on Saturday night.

Ebobisse’s strike came on the break, as he slid in the box to touch home a ground-bound cross from Jack Skahan into the far corner, on the way to the Quakes’ first victory after four straight losses to begin the season.

“It felt great, especially for the players. The players have been fantastic in terms of trying to get better,” coach Luchi Gonzalez told reporters after the win. “We obviously have been disappointed with the results. We know that it hasn’t bounced our way, but we saw early in the week in competing and with their energy and in their belief. Together they showed that determination.”

San Jose defender Vítor Costa de Brito scored in the 42nd minute and Cristian Espinoza followed with a goal a minute later and the Earthquakes (1-4-0) took a 2-0 lead into halftime.

De Brito used an assist from Bruno Wilson off a corner kick to score his second goal in his fifth career appearance. Espinoza scored with his right foot in close — following a review — giving the Earthquakes a two-goal lead.

The Sounders rallied to tie the match in the second half, using a penalty-kick goal by Raúl Ruidíaz in the 72nd minute and the equalizer by Danny Musovski in the 81st. Cody Baker had an assist on the first goal of the season for Musovski. Ruidíaz has scored twice this season.

Even the return of goalkeeper Stefan Frei failed to get the winless Sounders (0-2-2) on track this season. Seattle went 0-1-2 with Andrew Thomas in goal while Frei recovered from a hamstring injury.

San Jose’s win evens the all-time series at 15-15-9, but the Earthquakes have rolled to a 4-0-1 record in five matchups since the start of the 2022 season.

William Yarbrough stopped five shots in his first career start for the Earthquakes. Yarbough spent the previous four seasons with the Colorado Rapids, who traded him to San Jose in January.

Frei finished with four saves for the Sounders.

“This gives us confidence, but keeping it in context is important. Earlier, we were not on the board, and it was not the end of the world,” Ebobisse said. “It’s not the end of the season; we just won one game at home, and it was a nail-biter. It does not mean we are flying. So we need to keep it in context by appreciating the good, learning from today, and finding a way to capitalize on the next opportunity.”

San Jose travels to play the Houston Dynamo next Saturday. Seattle stays on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.