Quakes Strike First But Unable To Preserve Lead
MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Quakes Strike First But Unable To Preserve Lead

Published on August 22, 2026 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Source: San Jose Earthquakes News Release


San Jose Earthquakes' Niko Tsakiris and Minnesota United FC's Anthony Markanich on game night
San Jose Earthquakes' Niko Tsakiris and Minnesota United FC's Anthony Markanich on game night
(San Jose Earthquakes)

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes fell 5-1 to Minnesota United FC on Saturday night at PayPal Park in Major League Soccer regular-season play.

The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Timo Werner's blast from the center edge of the 18-yard box resulted in a Jefferson Diaz handball and penalty kick awarded to San Jose. Werner subsequently converted from the spot to make it 1-0 for the Black and Blue. MNUFC equalized six minutes later in their attacking end when Anthony Markanich took the ball on the left edge of the box and fed Joaquín Pereyra, who turned and fired a low rabona for the far post that San Jose goalkeeper Angus Gunn got a piece of but could not keep from rolling into the net. The visitors pulled ahead in minute 40 when Kyle Duncan charged down the right half-space in transition and passed it to the top of the box for Kelvin Yeboah, who successfully belted a shot from long range to make it 2-1. Minnesota added another goal in minute 44 when Pereyra and Owen Gene played a one-two and the latter pushed a through ball into the box for a streaking Yeboah, who chipped it over Gunn for a 3-1 advantage to close the half.

After intermission, the Quakes pushed forward to get back in the game. In minute 49, Reid Roberts played Ousseni Bouda in the box but his left-footed shot for the far post was parried away by a diving Drake Callender. However, in the 65th minute, a turnover in the Quakes' own end led to MNUFC's Marcus Caldeira collecting the ball and slotting it home to make it 4-1. The Loons tacked on one more goal in the 86th minute when a Pereyra corner kick found Mauricio Gonzalez, whose leaping header resulted in the final 5-1 margin.

The full "Quakes Replay" of tonight's match is scheduled to air Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. PT on KTVU Plus. For highlights, analysis and features, fans can also watch the new half-hour magazine show "Quakes Exclusive" on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. PT on KTVU FOX 2 and the FOX Local app, as well as an encore presentation on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT.

The Black and Blue will continue MLS regular-season play on the road against Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday, Aug. 29. Kickoff from Shell Energy Stadium is slated for 5:30 p.m. PT with the match to be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).

GAME NOTES

ON THE TABLE: The Earthquakes move to fourth in the Western Conference (10-8-3, 33 points; 39 GF, 33 GA), while MNUFC goes to 10th (7-7-7, 28 points; 27 GF, 29 GA).

WE MEET AGAIN: Tonight marked the club's initial meeting in MLS play this season but second across all competitions. In their first meeting this season in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on April 28, after MNUFC pulled ahead 2-1 early in the second half, San Jose exploded for three goals in the last 17 minutes of the game to win it 4-2. Beau Leroux had a brace, while Jack Skahan and Niko Tsakiris also netted.

SERIES STANDING: San Jose is 5-9-4 (23 GF, 36 GA) overall in regular-season play against MNUFC and 3-5-2 (14 GF, 22 GA) at home.

BUY DOMESTIC: The Quakes started six American players tonight. No team in MLS has averaged more of them in the starting 11 more across all competitions in 2026 than Bruce Arena's Earthquakes (7.5/game). Arena also started six former college players tonight; no team in MLS has more of them on the roster (19).

TIMO TIME: Timo Werner's fourth-minute goal was his sixth of the season and 13th goal contribution in league play (6g/7a). It was also his third goal via penalty kick out of four attempts. Adding one assist from Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, he has 14 goal contributions in all competitions (6g/8a).

REUNITED: MNUFC forward Tomás Chancalay played for Bruce Arena in New England in 2023 and had immediate success, scoring six goals in 11 matches and earning an eventual Designated Player contract with the Revolution.

San Jose Earthquakes 1 - 5 Minnesota United FC

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 - PayPal Park; San Jose, California

Weather: 73°F Partly Sunny

Attendance: 14,517

*all stats unofficial

Match Officials:

Referee: Jair Marrufo

AR1: Adam Garner

AR2: Eduardo Jeff

4th Official: Joe Dickerson

VAR: Greg Dopka

AVAR: Robert Schaap

Scoring Summary:

SJ (1-0) - Timo Werner (penalty kick) 4'

MIN (1-1) - Joaquin Pereyra (Anthony Markanich) 10'

MIN (1-2) - Kelvin Yeboah (Kyle Duncan) 40'

MIN (1-3) - Kelvin Yeboah (Owen Gene, Joaquin Pereyra) 44'

MIN (1-4) - Marcus Caldeira (Kyle Duncan) 65'

MIN (1-5) - Mauricio González (Joaquin Pereyra) 86'

Misconduct Summary:

SJ - Benji Kikanović (caution) 85'

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Angus Gunn (GK); Vítor Costa (Jamar Ricketts 78'), Reid Roberts, Daniel Munie, Benji Kikanović; Jonathan González (Ian Harkes HT), Beau Leroux, Niko Tsakiris (Nick Fernandez 66'); Timo Werner (C) (Darius Johnson 57'), Ousseni Bouda (Paul Marie 66'), Preston Judd.

Substitutes not used: Francesco Montali (GK), Jack Jasinski, Luka Jovanović, Dave Romney.

POSS.: 56.5%; SHOTS: 11; SOG: 6; CORNERS: 3; OFFSIDES: 0; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 13; xG: 1.8

MINNESOTA UNITED FC: Drake Callender (GK); Anthony Markanich (Devin Padelford 87'), Michael Boxall (C), Morris Duggan, Jefferson Diaz; Will Trapp (Carlos Harvey 83'), Owen Gene (Nectarios Triantis 76'), Kyle Duncan, Joaquin Pereyra; Kelvin Yeboah (Mauricio Gonzalez 82'), Marcus Caldeira (Tomas Chancalay 76').

Substitutes not used: Alec Smir (GK), Mamadou Dieng, Julian Gressel, Aziel "AZ" Jackson.

POSS.: 43.5%; SHOTS: 11; SOG: 7; CORNERS: 3; OFFSIDES: 3; SAVES: 5; FOULS: 15; xG: 3.1

EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA

On overall thoughts of the match:

"I think the physicality and the pressure Minnesota brought to the game were a big difference in the first half. Their goalkeeper also made some outstanding saves, which made the scoreline a little different than you might have expected. We played better in the second half, but our finishing has been very poor. We had some decent chances tonight where we could have scored, so you have to give their goalkeeper credit. Still, I thought their pressure on the ball in the first half was a big factor in the game, along with the key saves their goalkeeper made. The moments in the game were critical. Down 3-1, I thought we started the second half pretty well and had an opportunity to make it 3-2. We were hanging in there, and then the fourth goal was a killer. At that point, the game was clearly over."

On matching up with opponents since the World Cup break:

"I think our opponents have been very physical against us over the last four or five games, and we haven't responded well to that. We haven't done a good job in the middle third of the field in terms of having some physicality, some presence, winning the ball, and making better passes. That's part of it, and we haven't had any saves that have kept us in games either. The goalkeeper in the LA game on Wednesday was outstanding against us, and the goalkeeper tonight did a very good job as well. Those moments in the game make a difference. In LA, we could easily have had two or three goals in the opening minutes of that game, and we failed to execute. Tonight, we had some chances that would have kept the game close, and we failed there as well. So it's a combination of things. I thought the pressure on the ball by Minnesota was very good. We had moments in the game when we weren't able to capitalize on opportunities, and we didn't get the saves we needed. No complaints; Minnesota was the better team."

On drawing positives from the team's performance:

"I still think there were some chances we needed to convert in the second half. We played better, yet we still lost the second half by two goals. I think there were some miscues on the fourth and fifth goals. We'll regroup as a team."

EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER DANIEL MUNIE

On the team's performance tonight against Minnesota United FC:

"I think we created a good amount of chances tonight, but we are also giving up too many chances defensively as a whole. We gave up two transition goals where we just kind of got outnumbered. We just have to be collectively switched on at all times."

On the team's winless streak since returning from the FIFA World Cup break:

"I think all teams go through slumps. Obviously, this one's a little bigger than most, but hopefully we can get back to basics-back to training hard, start with good habits. Hopefully we can go on the road and find a good result."

"We take full responsibility as players. We need to work harder in trainings and collectively get back on the same page. I feel like the effort is there. I feel like you see guys busting their butts."

On looking ahead to the next match, a road clash against Houston Dynamo FC next Saturday:

"It's unfortunate what we're going through right now, but we're in fourth place. We just have to put it behind us. It's tough. We have a week to prepare for Houston. We have to get a result there."

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Images from this story

San Jose Earthquakes' Niko Tsakiris and Minnesota United FC's Anthony Markanich on game night
San Jose Earthquakes' Niko Tsakiris and Minnesota United FC's Anthony Markanich on game night
   



Major League Soccer Stories from August 22, 2026


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