San Jose Earthquakes fullback Jack Jasinski (#17) celebrates his first ever career MLS goal against Austin FC in the arms of his teammate Niko Tsakiris (#10) during the Earthquakes 5-1 win at PayPal Park on Wednesday APR 22, 2026. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–Preston Judd recorded his second brace of the season during a five-goal second half offensive explosion by the San Jose Earthquakes in a convincing 5-1 blowout victory over Austin FC on Wednesday evening at PayPal Park.

San Jose continued its best start in franchise history with its eighth win in nine games and went atop of the Western Conference standings with 24 points. Austin has lost two out of its past three matches.

Austin (1-4-4) drew first blood in the ninth minute. A giveaway by San Jose led to Joseph Rosales firing a shot off of Quakes goalkeeper Daniel and into the upper corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

San Jose (8-1-0) responded with scoring chances led by German superstar Timo Werner. Werner had two shots from the left side of the box in the 11th and 14th minutes only to have Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver stone away both chances.

Despite being down a goal in the opening 45 minutes, San Jose dominated the first half with seven scoring chances inside the box. They outshot Austin 13-4 and had a xG of 1.28 compared to 0.45 for Austin.

The Earthquakes carried the momentum they had in the first half at the start of the second half creating quality scoring chances including a header from Jack Jasinski that hit off the right post in the 57th minute.

San Jose finally hit paydirt a minute later off of a set piece. Werner’s corner kick sailed right into the middle of the box where an unmarked Jasinski headed the ball past Stuver for his first career MLS goal in the 58th minute.

Jamar Ricketts earned a penalty kick in the 76th minute when he was tripped up inside the box by Austin so and so. Werner cashed in the penalty kick two minutes later with a rifle of a shot to the left side of the net for his second goal of the season.

The Earthquakes iced the game in the 83rd minute when Preston Judd scored his first goal of the match after finishing off a cross into the box from Paul Marie with a one-timer past Stuver for his third goal of the season.

Ousseni Bouda scored his co-team leading fifth goal of the season after getting inside position on Jonanthan Bell inside the box to chase down a long ball. Bouda beat Stuver with a left-footed shot to the far corner of the net.

Judd completed his brace and co-team leading fifth goal of the season in the 89th minute after heading the ball into the back off the net after a perfectly timed cross into the box from Marie that sent the Quakes crowd into a frenzy.

Daniel finished the match stopping one of the two shots on target to earn his eighth victory of the season. Stuver, who was left hung out to dry for the majority of the match, made 11 saves on 16 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with 13 corner kicks. Austin only had one.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels to the Midwest to take on St. Louis CITY on Saturday April 28 at 5:30pm at Energizer Park.