With CCL looming, Seattle Sounders face “complacency” issue in San Jose loss

The Earthquakes benefited from a new-coach bump, dismissing Matias Almeyda on Monday and installing Alex Covelo on an interim basis. Ultimately, that helped them snap a seven-game winless stretch to open the year and earn their first league win of 2022.

San Jose struck quickly in the 64th and 65th minutes through Espinoza and midfielder Jackson Yueill, the first coming off a near-post cross that goalkeeper Stefan Frei couldn’t handle and the latter via a counter-attack from the restart. Then after Video Review, San Jose were awarded a second-half stoppage time spot-kick that Espinoza converted.

Despite their deep run in the CCL’s continental club format, Seattle have now lost two straight MLS matches (last week to Inter Miami CF).

“We just need to be hard to beat, a little bit harder defensively in certain moments of the game, a little bit more steely,” Schmetzer said. “Having Yeimar come back, I think that will help us there. That’s the one thing I would say is a little worrisome, but I think this is just a one-off.”