Seattle Sounders x San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes scored shortly before halftime and fought off a frantic second-half charge to defeat the Seattle Sounders 1-0 at Lumen Field on Saturday afternoon. Cristian Espinoza scored the game's lone goal in first-half stoppage time, sending a low left-footed effort past Stefan Cleveland to help the Quakes end an 11-match losing run.

The goal was scored against the odds. Before the half-hour mark, Raul Ruidiaz had two good chances in a six-minute stretch, but he shot over the crossbar with JT Marcinkowski rushing off his line after being passed behind by Joao Paulo. The Quakes goalie then made a one-handed save to keep him out.

After halftime, the Sounders controlled possession and had a good chance to tie the game just before the hour mark when Joao Paulo collected the ball and fired dangerously toward the net, but his effort went just wide.

In the 83rd minute, Will Bruin returned from injury to join Ruidiaz and Fredy Montero in search of an equalizer. With a run behind the Quakes defense two minutes later, Bruin nearly put a charge in the fans, but his low shot toward the far post was off the mark.

Chris Wondolowski thought he had scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute, but the goal was overturned when Video Review found the ball had gone out of touch during the buildup.

The Sounders were given a lifeline by the eight minutes of stoppage time, but they were unable to score, and the Earthquakes celebrated their first win since May 7.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Alejandro Sanchez]