The Seattle Sounders claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Lumen Field, ending a frustrating seven-match winless streak against their Western Conference rivals. In addition to securing a vital three points in the playoff race, the win clinched the 2025 edition of the Heritage Cup, a trophy contested annually between the two clubs with roots in the old NASL.
The match was defined by momentum shifts and a brace from substitute Danny Musovski, whose display helped flip the game on its head. San Jose entered the match in strong form and looked poised to extend their dominance over Seattle after forward Preston Judd opened the scoring early in the first half. Judd pounced on a cross after great wing play from Jamar Ricketts and slotted past Andrew Thomas, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Shortly after, however, Seattle was forced into an early change as forward Jordan Morris exited with a shoulder injury. The substitution proved to be a turning point. Musovski, on in Morris’s place, scored just minutes later to level the match, latching onto a well-weighted cross from Albert Rusnák and finishing with a brave header to bring Lumen Field back to life.
The Earthquakes regained control briefly in the second half. Chicho Arango’s clinical strike pulled the visitors even after Musovski had put the Sounders ahead with his second goal—another header—following a fast break in which De La Vega ran loose and crossed for Musovski to finish. But the decisive moment came in the 69th minute when Argentine winger Pedro de la Vega struck the match-winner. After a solo run reminiscent of his time at Lanús, De La Vega fired a shot past San Jose goalkeeper Daniel from just outside the box. The goal marked his fourth of the season and sealed all three points for Seattle.
Beyond the box score, the result held deeper significance. It marked Seattle’s first regular-season win over San Jose since 2021 and improved their all-time MLS record against the Earthquakes to 16-15-11, including a dominant 11-7-5 mark at home. With the Heritage Cup now secured—after a 1-1 draw in the first leg earlier this year—the Sounders added another chapter to one of the league’s oldest rivalries.
The Sounders now climb to fourth in the Western Conference standings with 37 points, positioning themselves well in the playoff picture. San Jose, with 29 points, remains in ninth and faces an increasingly tight race as the season enters its final third.
Seattle next travels to face Atlanta United on July 26, looking to build momentum from this hard-earned win.
Key Tactical Notes:
● Ferreira’s Inside Movement: Jesús Ferreira began on the right wing but frequently drifted inside, functioning almost as a secondary No. 10. This movement pulled San Jose’s left-sided defenders out of shape and opened up wide channels for overlapping runs from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, who repeatedly threatened with crosses into the box.
● San Jose’s Wingback Setup: Cristian Espinoza, traditionally a central midfielder, played in a hybrid wingback/deep-lying creator role. Ousseni Bouda often tucked inside to allow Espinoza to drive forward along the touchline. While the tactic initially gave San Jose width, Seattle adjusted well by doubling up defensively and limiting space in the wide areas.
● De la Vega’s Breakout Game: De la Vega was lively from the opening whistle. Operating off the left wing, he consistently found space between San Jose’s back five and midfield line, drifting into pockets to receive the ball and carry it into danger zones. His movement—particularly when Ferreira tucked inside from the opposite flank—pulled the Earthquakes out of shape and created overloads in central areas.
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