San Jose Earthquakes Win 2-1 Over Vancouver Whitecaps, Move to Eighth in Western Conference

The San Jose Earthquakes secured a crucial 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, with Preston Judd scoring a dramatic late goal in second-half stoppage time to break a six-match winless streak. This win marked San Jose's first home victory in over three months and propelled them into eighth place in the Western Conference, placing them in playoff contention. The match featured a pivotal moment when Vancouver's Edier Ocampo was sent off in the 27th minute after receiving two quick yellow cards, giving San Jose a numerical advantage. Josef Martínez scored on a penalty kick earlier in the game, bringing his career MLS goals to 127, second among active players. Despite Vancouver equalizing late in the 88th minute through Brian White, San Jose capitalized on their extra time opportunity, with assists from Jamar Ricketts and DeJuan Jones leading to Judd's winner. The win is especially significant for San Jose given their challenging upcoming schedule against top conference teams and improves their standing just ahead of the playoff cut line, while Vancouver remains a strong contender near the top of the standings.