3rd in Western Conference
\n9 points, 3W-0L-0D record<\/p>\n
For the first time in club history, San Jose have started a season with three wins.<\/p>\n
That sees Bruce Arena’s squad enter Matchday 4 alongside LAFC<\/a>, San Diego FC<\/a> and Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> as one of just four three-win teams left in MLS.<\/p>\n This coincides with newcomer Timo Werner, who missed Matchday 1, providing assists in consecutive substitute appearances.<\/p>\n The German star was acquired in January from German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, giving San Jose a new leading attacker after Cristian Espinoza<\/a>, Chicho Arango<\/a> and Josef Mart\u00ednez<\/a>\u00a0departed this winter.<\/p>\n While it’s early, San Jose have started dreaming of an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs return in Arena’s second year as head coach and sporting director.<\/p>\n Ousseni Bouda: The Burkina Faso international, now in his fourth season with San Jose, has scored in back-to-back games. Werner looks primed to make his first start for San Jose. The German forward is bound to challenge Seattle’s backline, which is traditionally among the strongest in MLS.<\/p>\n 6th in Western Conference “Effective” might best describe Seattle’s two league victories, with Brian Schmetzer’s team finding ways to thrive while weathering key injuries.<\/p>\n During a 2-0 win<\/a> over the Colorado Rapids<\/a> on MLS is Back weekend, midfielder Paul Rothrock<\/a> delivered 1g\/1a after forward Jordan Morris<\/a> (quad) exited early.<\/p>\n Then last weekend, fullback Kalani Kossa-Rienzi<\/a> scored just after halftime of a 1-0 win<\/a> at St. Louis CITY SC<\/a>. He subbed on for center back Y\u00e9imar Gomez Andrade<\/a> (hamstring).<\/p>\n That sticktoitiveness embodies the Sounders, who flexed their title credentials last year by beating\u00a0Inter Miami CF<\/a> in the Leagues Cup<\/a> final. That came shortly after they turned heads at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n During a lengthy road swing, will Seattle dig out another gritty result?\u00a0<\/p>\n Jes\u00fas Ferreira: At just 25 years old, the USMNT forward is in his 10th MLS season and fast approaching 200 regular-season appearances.\u00a0 The Sounders will likely have some squad rotation after visiting Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> midweek in the Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> Round of 16. They’re also juggling some key injuries early on.<\/p>\n Does Werner deliver another game-deciding moment? Or will Roldan step up for the Sounders? This one could come down to those star players.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"3rd in Western Conference 9 points, 3W-0L-0D record For the first time in club history, San Jose have…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":214925,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[11414,88,1084,90,89,12816,6532,98583,98582],"class_list":["post-214924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-jose","tag-priority-match","tag-san-jose","tag-san-jose-earthquakes","tag-san-jose-headlines","tag-san-jose-news","tag-seattle-sounders-fc","tag-sendtonews","tag-sjvssea-03-15-2026","tag-sunday-night-soccer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nDejuan Jones: The USMNT<\/a> fullback has made more than 200 professional appearances and was part of Arena’s 2021 Supporters’ Shield-winning side in New England<\/a>.
\nPreston Judd: Judd<\/a> has two tallies in three games this year. The rugged striker is seeking double-digit goals for the first time in his career.
\nBeau Leroux: Leroux<\/a> is a key midfielder for San Jose, going from their MLS NEXT Pro<\/a> affiliate to a locked-in starter with 5g\/5a in 36 games.
\nTimo Werner: The 2018\u00a0FIFA World Cup<\/a> alum has delivered, proving why he starred for Leipzig, Chelsea and Tottenham before coming to MLS.<\/p>\n
\n6 points, 2W-1L-0D record<\/p>\n
\nJackson Ragen: The Seattle native has been among the league’s steadiest center backs since becoming a locked-in starter during the Sounders’ 2023 campaign.
\nCristian Roldan: The 2025 MLS Best XI midfielder is hoping to make his second World Cup roster, with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino saying<\/a> he brings “a little bit of everything.”\u00a0
\nAlbert Rusn\u00e1k: Last season, Rusn\u00e1k<\/a> was Seattle’s most productive attacker with 21 goal contributions (11g\/10a). He has 1g\/1a in three matches to start the year.
\nAndrew Thomas:\u00a0After five seasons of backing up Stefan Frei<\/a>, Thomas<\/a> has taken over Seattle’s starting goalkeeper role.<\/p>\n