SEATTLE — Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia assisted on Sanna Nyassi’s first-half strike and scored in the second half to lead San Jose (5-5-4, 22 points) to a 2-0 road win over the Sounders (9-4-2, 29 points).
In the 28th minute, Garcia sent a pass to his right along the top of the 18-yard box to Nyassi. The ex-Sounder picked the left side of the net and nailed his shot past a sprawling Stefan Frei. The tally was Nyassi’s second of the year.
Garcia doubled the Quakes’ lead in the 73rd minute. He started his run 25 yards outside the box and maneuvered past Micheal Azira, Andy Rose and Chad Marshall before firing off a left-footed shot to notch his first goal of the year. Ex-Sounder Cordell Cato was given an assist on Garcia’s goal. It was Cato’s first point of the season.
Keeper David Bingham recorded his fifth shutout of the season. He made several reaction saves in the first half to keep Seattle off the scoreboard. Bingham deflected Lamar Neagle’s long-range strike headed towards the upper part of the net. Later in the half the San Jose stopper was positioned in the right spot on Rose’s redirected short-range shot.
The Sounders played without the services of four key players: forwards Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Chad Barrett and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.
Dempsey received a three-match ban from MLS after his referee incident in the midweek U.S. Open Cup clash against the Portland Timbers. In the same match, Martins suffered a groin injury that will keep him out for several months. The two forwards combined for 14 goals and 10 assists. Barrett and Alonso continue to recuperate from hamstring strains.
Seattle replaced defender Brad Evans with Zach Scott to start the second half. Evans suffered an unknown ailment or injury prior to the halftime break.
The Sounders head to Philadelphia for a Wednesday encounter against the Union. San Jose returns home to play the LA Galaxy next Saturday.
