Nashville SC and the San Jose Earthquakes played to a 2-2 draw at Pay Pal Stadium in San Jose on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (photo from San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Jeremy Ebobisse is using 2022 as a showcase season.

Ebobisse recorded his second brace of the season as the San Jose Earthquakes came back twice to settle for a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon at Pay Pal Stadium.

San Jose, despite remaining are winless in their first seven matches, earned another point and have earned a point in their last three home matches. Nashville SC has points in three straight matches.

This was the first match between the two clubs as Nashville SC entered the MLS as an expansion team in 2020.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda welcomed back his best defender to the starting lineup in Nathan. The Brazilian fullback played in his first match since the opener when he suffered a lower body injury in the first half.

Nashville (3-2-2) drew first blood late in the first half. Former Quake Anibal Godoy fed Hany Mukhtar at midfield off of a turnover. Mukhtar dribbled all the way in, untouched, and beat Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski with a right footed shot into the right corner for his first goal of the season in the 38th minute.

San Jose (0-4-3) had a couple of chances earlier in the opening 45 minutes, including a shot from Cristian Espinoza from inside the box in the 16th minute, but it was easily handled by Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis.

San Jose’s luck changed early in the second half. A handball by Danile Lovitz in the 51st minute set up a free kick from 20 yards out.

Ebobisse bent in a perfect ball into the left corner of the net past Willis for his team leading fourth goal of the season in the 52nd minute to score the equalizer.

“It’s a team that does not give up,” said Ebobisse. “We’re a team that always play to the final whistle. We always believe we can turn this game around.”

Nashville SC regained the lead in the 63rd minute. CJ Sapong’s header off a throw in caromed over to an unmarked Mukhtar along the left side. The German native used a diving kick into the empty net for his first brace of the season.

The Earthquakes took advantage of another set piece. A corner kick from Jamiro Monteiro found its way to Jan Gregus who poked the ball back into the middle and Ebobisse chipped it into the back of the net for his fifth goal and second brace of the season.

Marcinkowksi finished with two saves on five shots on target. Willis made three saves on five shots on target.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with eight corner kicks. Nashville SC had one.

This was Nashville’s first MLS match against a team from California.

The Earthquakes are off to the worst start in club history with just three points from their first seven games. San Jose is the 10th team in MLS history to have fewer than three points after six games, while only three teams have had two or fewer points through seven games in league history.

UP NEXT: San Jose host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday 4/23 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.