Osaze De Rosario came off the bench and scored on a header in the 89th minute as the Seattle Sounders defeated the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 Wednesday night.
Jesus Ferreira and Albert Rusnak also scored for the Sounders (7-1-3, 24 points), who have handed the Earthquakes (9-2-2, 29 points) both of their defeats this season.
Nick Fernandez and Preston Judd scored for San Jose, which had an eight-match unbeaten streak snapped (6-0-2).
The Sounders extended their unbeaten run to nine matches (6-0-3) and haven’t lost in 22 straight across all competitions at Lumen Field since a 2-0 defeat to reigning UEFA Champions Cup winner Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup last June 23.
The winner came as Nouhou Tolo sent a cross from the left wing to De Rosario at the top of the 6-yard box. His header took one bounce off the turf and into the far right corner of the net.
The Earthquakes had tied the score on halftime substitute Judd’s ninth of the season in the 69th minute. A blocked shot fell to Judd, whose attempt went off the heel of defender Jackson Ragen and just over diving goalkeeper Andrew Thomas.
The Sounders took a 2-1 lead in the 55th minute. Ferreira intercepted a pass by Reid Roberts about 30 yards from his own goal line and dribbled 75 yards down the middle of the field into the San Jose penalty area. He weaved between a couple defenders before putting a shot from 15 yards inside the right post.
The Earthquakes struck first in the second minute, taking advantage of a Seattle turnover. Sounders defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi’s back pass for Thomas was intercepted near the end line on the left wing by Nonso Adimabua, who sent a pass to Fernandez at the top left corner of the 6-yard box for a one-timer into an open net.
The Sounders pulled even on Rusnak’s penalty kick in the 43rd minute after defender Dave Romney was called for a handball on Kossa-Rienzi’s header. Earthquakes goalie Daniel dove to his right as Rusnak put his kick into the middle of the net.
The Earthquakes were without forward Timo Werner (left hamstring strain), the MLS player of the month in April, and midfielder Niko Tsakiris (right groin surgery).
–Field Level Media
