Quakes, Sounders clash while off to sterling starts

The San Jose Earthquakes try to continue their perfect start Sunday when they host a Seattle Sounders side coming off an impressive result in CONCACAF play.

After finishing 10th in the Western Conference last season, the Earthquakes (3-0-0, 9 points) are one of four West teams yet to drop points after three matches, and one of three yet to concede.

Most recently, Ousseni Bouda scored his second goal -- again on an assist from new acquisition Timo Werner -- to help San Jose earn a 1-0 victory last Saturday at the Philadelphia Union.

The visitors may have ridden their luck a bit in a game where the Union created more and better-quality chances overall. But Bouda suggested there was some value in grinding out that kind of result.

"I don't think it was the best of our games," he said this week. "We could have done better in possession, but we were able to get the win, and that's something that we will take away, learning to win differently, especially."

Werner, the former RB Leipzig and Tottenham man, still hasn't started as he works back into shape following a German season when he was rarely used. But that could change Sunday after he played the entire second half against the Union.

Seattle (2-1-0, 6 points) has won two straight in all competitions after hammering West champions Vancouver 3-0 in Thursday's opening leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 series.

Making his first start since he suffered a torn ACL a year and a day prior, winger Paul Arriola scored twice to suggest he could be a critical piece as the Sounders try to keep pace with the West's four unbeatens.

"It's not just the goals," Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer said. "But some of his savvy play, some of his smart defending, helping Nouhou, there were a lot of good soccer plays, soccer experience that helped us in this game."

Arriola and Osaze De Rosario's inclusion also allowed Schmetzer to bring regulars Paul Rothrock and Daniel Musovski off the bench during a busy patch of the schedule. Rothrock scored the third goal of the contest and his second of the season in all competitions.

--Field Level Media