SAN JOSE – In an up-and-down season, the Earthquakes have had few losses as painful because the one they endured on Sunday night.
Masked San Diego goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos had slipped on the purpose kick whereas being rushed by current San Jose substitute Noel Buck on Sunday afternoon. As an alternative of the ball blasting excessive into the air, it trickled softly ahead and onto the ready foot of veteran striker Martinez within the 72nd minute.
With a large open purpose in entrance of him, however pestered on the perimeters by San Diego defenders, the Venezulean ahead did what he has so usually performed over his adorned MLS profession.
Martinez buried the ball into the again of the online, breaking the scoreless impasse and showing for just a few moments like he had given the Quakes the profitable purpose.
Nevertheless it was to not be.
Within the 82nd minute, SD sub Marcus Ingvartsen equalized with a header off Franco Negri’s cross, leveling the rating. Then Ingvartsen tormented the Quakes in one other means, launching an extended ball to a star striker Anders Dreyer.
San Jose goalkeeper Daniel had no probability at saving the shot within the 86th minute, and San Diego went on to safe the 2-1 victory.
“It’s just a lack of concentration and commitment from all of us,” Buck mentioned. “When we don’t play as a team, and don’t keep working hard as a team, this is what can happen.”
San Jose Earthquakes’ Josef Martinez (17) celebrates his purpose with San Jose Earthquakes’ Noel Buck (21) towards San Diego FC within the second half at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
San Jose entered the match ninth within the desk with 32 factors, three off Austin FC for the final playoff spot. Its opponent, San Diego, lorded over the West with an astounding 49 factors.
The Earthquakes had been trying to maintain the momentum going from their 2-1 victory over Vancouver final week, the workforce’s first victory in over a month. San Jose had scuttled via a winless June.
For many of the recreation, San Jose gave the highest workforce within the West every little thing it might deal with.
A scoreless first half belied how eventful the preliminary 45 minutes had been, as coach Bruce Enviornment’s relentless press out of a 3-4-3 formation flustered the normally scientific San Diego into some uncommon errors.
Among the best possibilities got here within the thirty fourth minute, when Vítor Costa and the 2 Cristians – Arrango and Espinoza – had photographs saved or blocked by a mass of defenders.
Within the forty second minute, Cristian Espinoza discovered house by chopping onto his proper foot. The all-star winger then blasted a low shot that skimmed throughout the PayPal Park grass and went mere inches broad left of the purpose.
San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer (10) scores the go-ahead purpose towards San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel (42) within the second half at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
A couple of minutes later, Espinoza performed a ravishing through-ball to DeJaun Jones, who sped into open house alongside the best aspect of the field however had his try additionally smothered by a defender.
San Jose had 9 photographs to San Diego’s two, however landed one try on purpose when the halftime whistle blew.
Centerback Daniel Munie had a unbelievable particular person second for San Jose within the 69th minute, hawking down a San Diego striker on the breakaway and making what might need been a goal-saving sort out.
Then the insanity of the ultimate 20 minutes adopted.
“We have a really good team, but the issue is getting over the line, keeping that one goal lead,” Buck mentioned.
Initially Revealed: August 17, 2025 at 5:06 PM PDT
