Max Arfsten’s goal in the 62nd minute was the difference for the host Columbus Crew in a 2-1 win against San Jose on Saturday.
Sean Zawadzki put Columbus (6-1-3, 21 points) ahead in the 29th minute before Josef Martinez equalized in the 40th for the Earthquakes (3-6-1, 10 points), who have lost three straight.
Arfsten scored on the transition with second-half substitute Aziel Jackson leading the charge. Jackson passed left to Arfsten at the top of the penalty area and he did the rest with a double stepover before roofing a shot.
The Crew desperately shot for an insurance goal, but in the 84th minute, Diego Rossi hit the post for the second time in the second half to keep it a one-score match.
After 16 unsuccessful shot attempts a 1-0 loss to Inter Miami in their previous match on April 19, it was more of the same for the Crew in the early going with misfire after misfire.
The breakthrough came via a free kick by Rossi from the left flank that Zawadzki, at the far post, redirected with an extended right leg for his first goal of the season and sixth in 72 career matches.
Martinez responded as he continues his climb up the MLS scoring chart. He can thank Beau Leroux for a slick ball between two defenders that put Martinez unmarked on the left side of the box for a deft left-footed chip over Patrick Schulte for goal No. 6 in 2025 and his 122nd in league play to rank sixth all-time, 11 behind retired Jaime Moreno.
He joined Cristian Arango as the only pair of Earthquakes teammates to each score at least six goals in the team’s first 10 games of a season.
Martinez was substituted at halftime with no word if he was injured.
While the Earthquakes have the top offense, they have the second-worst defense. However, just before the half ended, defender Dave Romney was in front of an open net to block a shot by Rossi and kept the match tied.
Former Crew defender DeJuan Jones, traded to San Jose on Tuesday, entered in the 65th minute.
–Field Level Media
