The Earthquakes are on to the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup after beating USL side Phoenix Rising FC 2-0 at PayPal Park on Wednesday behind goals from Nick Fernandez and Jack Jasinski.
Fernandez opened the scoring in the third minute when he took a short corner kick from Timo Werner, dribbled to his right and blasted a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box past Phoenix goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky.
Jasinski’s goal came on a pass from Fernandez that capped a quick build-up off a throw-in. Noel Buck made a quick one-touch pass near midfield to Fernandez on the left side, who passed it first time to a streaking Jasinski on the right edge of the box, and the Quakes’ second-round draft pick dispatched the ball in the lower right corner of the net.
That was all the scoring for the match as the Quakes settled in defensively after losing Jonathan González to a second yellow card late in the first half.
Head coach Bruce Arena was positive about Fernandez’s performance in the midfield after spending much of last year with the Quakes’ MLS NEXT Pro team in Oakland.
“He’s gotten in a little bit this year now, and he’s been a good player,” Arena said of the 24-year-old who has featured in four games now. “Probably his more comfortable natural position would be as a 10, but he’s very versatile.”
San Jose is now 7-1-0 in all competitions, its best start in franchise history. There will be a quick turnaround for Arena’s group, as the Earthquakes visit LAFC on Sunday afternoon in MLS play.
The Quakes will host Minnesota United in the round of 16 on April 28 (7 p.m., Paramount+). Sixteen MLS clubs joined the competition this week at the round of 32, and all but three advanced.