San Jose Earthquakes Triumph Over Sporting Kansas City
In a strong performance on Saturday evening, the San Jose Earthquakes triumphed over Sporting Kansas City with a comprehensive 3-0 victory, kicking off the MLS season in style. Daniel Munie was instrumental for San Jose, netting two goals, while teammate Preston Judd contributed another, both finding the net shortly before halftime.
Match Highlights
The scoring started in the 42nd minute when Munie tapped in a shot from close range following a corner by Niko Tsakiris, which Judd had initially headed, only for goalkeeper John Pulskamp to deflect. Just minutes later, in added time of the first half, Judd himself scored from the center of the box, capitalizing on assists from Jamar Ricketts and Tsakiris, ensuring a 2-0 lead at the break.
In the 54th minute, Munie added to the tally, converting again from a central position, with support from Beau Leroux and Reid Roberts. The Earthquakes demonstrated dominance in the match, outshooting their opponents 18 to 7 and earning an impressive 15 corner kicks compared to just three for Sporting KC.
Looking Ahead
This match marked the beginning of the 2026 season for both teams, but for Sporting Kansas City, it follows a significant restructuring, with new general manager David Lee and head coach Rafaël Wicky at the helm. Last year, the club finished at the bottom of the Western Conference, managing only 28 goals—a performance that positioned them among the league’s lowest alongside Atlanta United.
