Seattle Sounders FC came from behind twice and left it late to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer on Wednesday night at Lumen Field.
The visitors stunned the home crowd almost immediately when Nick Fernandez struck in the 2nd minute, giving San Jose an early lead before Seattle had settled. It was an efficient start from the Earthquakes, who spent long stretches without the ball but made their first real opening count.
Seattle gradually took control of the fixture and began to pin San Jose deeper and deeper in its own half. The Sounders’ pressure was finally rewarded in the 43rd minute when Albert Rusnák converted from the penalty spot to make it 1-1, sending the sides into the interval level after a first half that had swung sharply toward the hosts.
With 63.2 percent possession, 23 total shots and nine efforts on target, Seattle looked the more assertive side for most of the night, and that territorial dominance told again after the restart. Jesús Ferreira put the Sounders ahead in the 55th minute, capping a strong spell from the hosts and seemingly putting them on course for a comfortable finish.
San Jose, though, refused to disappear from the contest. Preston Judd hauled the Earthquakes back into it in the 69th minute, punishing Seattle for allowing the fixture to open up again. It was a reminder that, for all the Sounders’ control, the visitors remained dangerous whenever they found space to break.
That equaliser set up a tense closing stretch, with Seattle pushing for a winner and San Jose trying to escape with a point. The decisive moment arrived in the 89th minute, when substitute Osaze De Rosario found the net to restore the Sounders’ lead and ignite Lumen Field. After being pegged back for a second time, Seattle still had one final surge left.
There was still enough time for anxious glances at the clock, but the Sounders saw out stoppage time to secure all three points. The final margin reflected a lively, back-and-forth fixture: Seattle’s control in possession and volume of chances eventually outweighed San Jose’s clinical finishing.
Goal scorers: Nick Fernandez 2′, Albert Rusnák 43′ (pen), Jesús Ferreira 55′, Preston Judd 69′, Osaze De Rosario 89′.
Half-time: Seattle Sounders FC 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes.
Full-time: Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 San Jose Earthquakes.
The result lifts Seattle to 7-3-1 on the season, while San Jose drops to 9-2-2 after an away performance full of resilience but ultimately undone by the late winner.
