Josef Martinez’s goal in the 14th minute was the only goal the visiting San Jose Earthquakes needed Saturday night as they helped their playoff hopes with a 1-0 victory over Western Confeference leader San Diego FC.
San Jose (10-14-8, 38 points) jumped from 11th to ninth in the West table, landing it in the conference’s final playoff spot with two matches left. It travels to Vancouver on Oct. 5 and hosts Austin on Oct. 18.
The Earthquakes tightened up considerably on defense, an issue for them throughout the season. In fact, they allowed 10 goals in their previous three fixtures, all losses. But they limited San Diego to three shots on frame, although it outshot them 19-7.
San Jose got just two shots on CJ dos Santos but one was Martinez’s 129th career MLS marker. Cristian Arango sent him in at the left post with a deft ball and Martinez ripped a lefty shot that deflected off dos Santos’ left hand, trickling into the net for his 13th goal of the season.
San Diego (17-9-6, 57 points) attacked consistently in the second half, seeking the equalizer, but goalie Daniel came up with saves on Anders Dreyer, Alex Mighten and Franco Negri. Daniel also had a little fortune on his side as Amahl Pellegrino’s potential game-tying tally in the 59th minute, which according to metrics carried a goal expectancy of 50 percent, missed wide left.
The result marked San Jose’s first clean sheet since May 28, when it toppled the LA Galaxy 1-0, and was just its fourth of the season. It was the seventh time this season that San Diego was blanked.
San Diego managed one final try at a tie in the 96th minute off Negri’s corner but Christopher McVey’s header sailed over the crossbar. The result dropped San Diego to 0-2-1 in September.
Hirving Lozano tried a match-high five shots for San Diego, though none made it on frame. Martinez, Arango and Ronaldo Vieira had two shots each for the Earthquakes.
–Field Level Media
