SEATTLE, WASH. – Despite a goal from Clint Dempsey just 18 seconds into the match and an Obafemi Martins strike six minutes shy of fulltime, Sounders FC fell 3-2 to Western Conference rival San Jose on Saturday night in front of 39,175 fans on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. With Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid absent due to a family commitment, Top Assistant Coach Brian Schmetzer managed the club for the third time since the team’s inaugural 2009 MLS campaign.
Dempsey bagged his third goal of the young season only 18 seconds into the match, making his early tally the fastest goal in Seattle’s MLS history. The Sounders FC forward headed home a ricochet after the Rave Green mounted their first attack of the contest, with defender Tyrone Mears lacing a powerful shot from the top of San Jose’s area that led to the initial rebound off of Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham.
San Jose countered in the 13th minute of play through Chris Wondolowski, as the Quakes captain converted a Marvell Wynne cross from the right flank to the level the score at 1-1. Wondolowski put his side into the lead early in the second half, as the forward pounced on a Sounders FC backline mis-clearance in the 48th minute. In MLS play, no player has scored more against Sounders FC than Wondolowski (nine goals).
Seattle earned a man-advantage in the 52nd minute of play, as Quakes defender Victor Bernardez received a red card for committing a hard foul on Sounders FC midfielder Micheal Azira. Despite being short-handed, San Jose recorded a third goal in the 70th minute courtesy of Innocent Emeghara, as the forward knifed through Seattle’s defense and tucked away a smooth finish to make the score 3-1.
Martins put Sounders FC within reach of a draw in the 84th minute, as the Nigerian recorded his second tally of the year, with Andy Rose and Gonzalo Pineda earning assists on the play. The Rave Green were unable to find an equalizer before fulltime, with San Jose earning the road victory and a full three points.
Sounders FC next plays on Tuesday, March 24 in an international friendly against Mexican side Club Tijuana (7:00 p.m. PT). Sigi Schmid’s club returns to MLS action on Saturday, March 28 at FC Dallas (5:30 p.m. PT / Q13 FOX).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – San Jose Earthquakes 3
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Venue:
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Baldomero Toledo
Assistants:
Frank Anderson, Jeff Hosking
Fourth Official:
Daniel Radford
Attendance: 39,175
Weather: Cloudy and 55 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Clint Dempsey 1’
SJ – Chris Wondolowski 13’
SJ – Chris Wondolowski 48’
SJ – Innocent Emghara (Adam Jahn) 70’
SEA – Obafemi Martins (Andy Rose, Gonzalo Pineda) 84’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SJ– Victor Bernardez (ejection) 52’
SEA – Micheal Azira (caution) 57’
SJ – Innocent Emeghara (caution) 85’
SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 90+4’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears (Cristian Roldan, 80’), Brad Evans-C, Chad Marshall, Leo Gonzalez; Lamar Neagle (Chad Barrett, 72’), Micheal Azira (Andy Rose, 67’), Gonzalo Pineda, Marco Pappa, Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Aaron Kovar, Dylan Remick, Zach Scott
Total shots: 12 (Marco Pappa, 3)
Shots on goal: 9 (3 players tie at 2)
Fouls: 12 (5 tied at 1)
Offside: 0 (Micheal Azira, 4)
Corner-kicks: 10 (Marco Pappa, 6)
Saves: 1 (Stefan Frei, 1)
San Jose Earthquakes – David Bingham; Marvell Wynne, Victor Bernardez, Paulo Renato (Adam Jahn, 64’), Shaun Francis; JJ Koval, Fatai Alashe, Matias Perez Garcia (Ty Harden, 57’); Sanna Nyassi (Shea Salinas, 72’), Chris Wondolowski, Innocent Emeghara
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Leandro Barrera, Cordell Cato, Ty Harden, Adam Jahn, Tommy Thompson
Total shots: 12 (Chris Wondolowski, 3)
Shots on goal: 4 (Chris Wondolowski, 2)
Fouls: 13 (Chris Wondolowski, 3)
Offside: 1 (Sanna Nyassi, 1)
Corner-kicks: 1 (Matias Perez Garcia, 1)
Saves: 7 (David Bingham, 7)
MATCH NOTES
- Recording his third MLS goal of 2015, Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey netted the fastest strike in team history only 18 seconds into the match. The previous club record was held by Eddie Johnson, who scored in the second minute of play against Colorado on July 28, 2012.
- Dempsey becomes just the third player in Sounders FC history to record three goals or more in the first two matches of a season. Previously David Estrada had four goals in the first two matches of 2012, with Fredy Montero netting three strikes through the first two contests of 2009.
- For the third time in Sounders FC history, the club has opened the season with five goals in its first two matches (2009, 2012).
- With Sigi Schmid attending his eldest son’s wedding tonight, Sounders FC is now 2-1-0 with Brian Schmetzer at the helm. Schmetzer won his previous two matchups in Schmid’s absence – on July 11, 2009 against Houston and October 21, 2012 versus FC Dallas.
- Chris Wondolowski has scored more times against Sounders FC than any other player in MLS history. Tonight was Wondolowski’s first multi-goal match against Seattle.
- Tonight’s matchup was the highest-scoring affair between Seattle and San Jose since Sounders FC entered MLS in 2009.
- Tonight’s loss marks the first time Sounders FC has failed to win a match where Obafemi Martins scores a goal (20-1-0).
- With 39,175 in attendance at CenturyLink Field, Sounders FC’s active MLS sellout streak reaches 109 games.
