Photo credit: Major League Soccer @MLS

By Pearl Allison Lo

It was San Jose’s turn to score three goals, as Chris Wondolowski accounted for the majority, with the Quakes breaking their winless streak 3-2, against the Sounders Saturday.

Seattle was coming off a 3-0 win and had recent success at home against San Jose.

The Quakes instead went with recent success overall, now 7-2-1 since 2012 and won for the first time since August 2, when they also beat the Sounders. Wondolowski also hit the equalizer in that game.

Seattle’s least favorite player, Wondolowski, who scored two goals, now has nine goals in 14 games against them.

Quakes’ Coach Dominic Kinnear and goalie David Bingham got their first wins.

San Jose’s Innocent Emeghara got his first MLS goal as well as his team increased their resiliency and defense with a man down amidst increasing second half pressure. Seattle more than doubled their passes from the first half and had eight corners, 22 crosses and nine shots (seven on target) in the second half.

Less than a minute into the game, 18 seconds to be exact, the Sounders’ Clint Dempsey picked up right where he left off, with two goals his last game. Dempsey had a header off the Tyrone Mears save by Bingham while Bingham was lying down. The defender next to Dempsey fell after kicking towards the ball. It was the fastest goal in Seattle franchise history.

Wondolowski had a header into the post in the 9th minute.

His next opportunity came from Marvell Wynne kicking the ball forward and then chasing it down before it reached the endline. Wynne then passed the ball to Wondolowski who directly in front of the net, received the ball off his chest and kicked it past diving goalie Stefan Frei in the 13th minute. It was Wynne’s fist assist.

The Quakes’ Matias Perez Garcia had a shot go wide left in stoppage time.

At the end of the first half, San Jose had 17 to the Sounders’ six clearances. Wondolowski was the only one with more than one shot.

In the 48th minute, Wondolowski gave the Quakes the lead with the help of Brad Evans losing the ball. Wondolowski did not hesitate as he kicked the ball over a bent backwards Frei who had his hands above his head.

Four minutes later, San Jose went down a man when Victor Bernardez received a red card in the 57th minute.

Bingham had a number of saves at points amidst corner kicks, including a header from Dempsey at one end. At the other end, Dempsey also narrowly missed sliding the ball into the net.

Emeghara’s goal came in the 70th minute. He passed the ball to Adam Jahn, who passed it right back to him with space. Emeghara faked out Brad Evans and kicked it past a diving Frei before another defender could get back in time.

Obafemi Martins cut the margin to one in the 84th minute. Possession started with Shea Salinas giving the ball away. Eventually, Gonzalo Pineda got the ball to Andy Rose who got the ball before it went out of bounds. Rose then found Martins who was behind the Quakes’ Shaun Francis who was behind Bingham, as Martins calmly put the ball in before Fatai Alashe could get back in time. Martins also scored in his last game.

Seattle is now 20-1-0 when Martins scores.

Game notes: Both Nigerian, Martins and Emeghara traded jerseys post-game. All three San Jose rookies were in the starting lineup tonight, Alashe and Emeghara getting their first shot. Teammate Ty Harden made his first season appearance in the second half. The Quakes finished with 46 to the Sounders’ eight clearances. San Jose will now have their official home opener at Avaya Stadium, hosting the Chicago Fire March 22 at 4pm.