San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd celebrates his first half goal among the Earthquakes super fan group The Ultras against Atlanta United at PayPal Park on Saturday FEB 28, 2026. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Earthquakes have jumped out to a quick start to the 2026 season. They defeated Atlanta United FC 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at PayPal Park.

San Jose has started 2-0 for the second consecutive year in a row. Atlanta United has started the season 0-2 and has lost both matches by a 2-0 score.

The match featured the San Jose debut of German international striker Timo Werner who came as a substitute for Preston Judd in the 61st minute. The Quakes acquired from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig back in late January. He’s recorded 153 goal and 86assits in nearly 450 appearances across stints with German Bundesliga sides VFB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig, as well as English Premier League teams Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Werner has been capped 57 times by his country and lifted seven trophies for club and country, including the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea.

San Jose (2-0-0) drew first blood in the 24th minute. Jamar Ricketts intercepted a free kick off of the foot of Atlanta United goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos. Ricketts raced down the left wing before chipping the ball into the center of the box where an unmarked Judd headed the ball into the far corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Judd has scored in back-to-back games as head coach Bruce Arena has made Judd his starting striker to open up the 2026 season with the subtractions of Chico Arango, Cristian Espinoza and Josef Martinez.

Atlanta (0-2-0) spent the majority of the opening 45 minutes inside its own zone defending San Jose’s offensive attack. The Quakes had the pitch tilted on the United’s as they had eight total shots to just three for Atlanta in the first half.

The Earthquakes thought they had doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Ricketts centered a ball into the middle of the box and Niko Tsakiris tapped home the ball into an open net. However, the sideline official ruled the play offsides and negated what would’ve been Tsakiris’ first goal of the season.

San Jose did eventually double its lead in the 79th minute. Werner ran down a long pass down the right wing. Werner then crossed the ball into the middle where a sliding Ousseni Bouda one-timed the ball with a right footed shot top shelf for his first goal of the season.

It was the type of play on why Arena wanted Werner in a Quakes kit as his speed and playmaking ability will make Werner a catalyst of San Jose’s offensive attack.

Quakes goalkeeper Daniel (2-0) recorded his second straight clean sheet having to make only one save during the match. He wasn’t tested much in the second half but came up with his lone save in the 89th minute was a sliding save on a shot attempt from Miguel Almirón. It was Atlanta’s best chance of the match.

Hoyos (0-2) made four saves on six shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with seven corner kicks. Atlanta United had four.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to Philadelphia for its first road match of the season against the Union on Saturday March 7th at 4:30pm at Subaru Park.