SAN JOSE (KRON) – The San Jose Earthquakes beat the MLS-leading Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-0 in Avaya Stadium’s first game under the lights. The win snapped the Earthquakes eight-game winless streak against the Whitecaps.
San Jose is now 2-1 in their new venue.
The ‘Quakes put aggressive pressure on the visiting team early. San Jose thought it had taken a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute when midfielder Matias Perez Garcia intercepted a pass then centered a cross to forward Adam Jahn who put the ball in Vancouver’s net, but Jahn was called offsides and the goal was disallowed.
San Jose scored in the 75th minute on a deflection by a Vancouver defender near the goal that found Sanna Nyassi’s foot at about the penalty spot. On the scoring play, the Whitecaps managed to block a pair of shots fired from inside their own penalty box before Nyassi blasted a left-footed, 15-yard strike into the left corner of the goal. It was Nyassi’s first goal with the Earthquakes.
Goalkeeper David Bingham earned his first career shutout without a save.
The win lifted San Jose into third place in the Western Conference standings. Vancouver remains the top team in the conference.
The Whitecaps (4-2-1) were playing its third game in eight days in which they’ve gone 1-1-1. The team’s only other loss this season was March 7 in the season opener at home in which Toronto FC won 3-1.
Pedro Morales and Jahn got into mild altercation in the 88th minute. Jahn was on the ground when Morales kicked at the ball near Jahn’s midsection, then Jahn kicked back at Morales’ shins. Both were given red cards.
San Jose (3-3-0) will visit New York (4-2-2) for their next game April 17. They’ll stay on the road for nearly month before coming home to face Columbus on May 16 at Avaya.