SOCCER: Quakes blank Union, off to best start in franchise history

Ousseni Bouda scored on a second-half assist from Timo Werner for a second consecutive game and the San Jose Earthquakes remained perfect with a 1-0 victory at the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.

Daniel made three saves to keep a third consecutive clean sheet for San Jose (3-0-0, 9 points), a team that conceded 63 goals en route to a 10th-place Western Conference finish in 2025.

That reversal in defensive form has helped the Quakes orchestrate their best three-game start to a season in club history.

Meanwhile, retooling Philadelphia (0-3-0, 0 points) continued to struggle in attack after parting with four starters following the Union's 2025 Supporters' Shield triumph. Their only tally came in last week's 2-1 home loss to New York City FC.

Philadelphia's second home loss comes after losing only once as a home side during the 2025 regular season.

Formerly of RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur, Werner before moving to MLS had not contributed a league assist since Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Fulham on Dec. 1, 2024.

Werner now has two in two appearances off the substitutes bench as he continues to work toward 90-minute fitness.

This time, Werner connected in the 59th minute with Bouda, who is the third Quakes player to score twice this season.

With his back to goal, Werner received a pass from Niko Tsakiris, immediately spun to split two defenders, then guided a low diagonal pass into the box and onto Bouda's run.

Bouda made sure center back Japhet Sery Larsen was playing him onside until the pass, then met it with a crisp, one-time right-footed finish past Andre Blake (three saves) and inside the left post.

Both teams had gotten into dangerous positions in the opening hour, but it was Philadelphia that came closer to scoring.

Daniel made his best saves in the minutes immediately before and after halftime. In the 45th, he turned away Indiana Vassilev's right-footed effort from the center of the box. In the 46th, Daniel thwarted Nathan Harriel's close-range header.

The game tilted toward Daniel's goal after San Jose took the lead, but he was rarely tested. He easily pushed Vassilev's 85th-minute effort from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar.

-Field Level Media/Reuters