San Jose Earthquakes and the Seattle Sounders had to settle for a share of the spoils as they battled to a 0-0 draw in a game of few chances. 

  • Story of the match 

Sounders almost took the lead early on when Cristian Roldan crossed from the right-hand side and the ball found Nicolas Lodeiro in the area, but the Earthquakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski was more than equal to his effort. 

San Jose had their best look of a low-key first half just before the interval, as Chris Wondolowski got on the end of a Cristian Espinoza free-kick and headed towards goal, only to see it cleared off the line by Seattle's Will Bruin.

Stefan Frei was on hand in the 64th minute to keep out Carlos Fierro’s shot that looked a certain opener, and it was the Earthquakes that looked the most likely to score in the game and avenge the previous 7-1 mauling at the hands of the Sounders.

As it turned out, both teams had late chances - the home side brought another save out of Frei and Jordan Morris crossed for Bruin but the front-man could not convert the the chance to see the game finish goalless and make it two games without a victory for Seattle.

  • Takeaways from the match

It was a night for records as San Jose’s Homegrown goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski secured his third clean sheet of the season and fourth of his MLS career. He has now recorded a shutout in three of his last four matches - which is much needed for the Earthquakes as their 7-1 defeat to Seattle only a few weeks ago will have been fresh in their minds.

Long-serving Chris Wondolowski made his 300th start for San Jose, becoming the third player in MLS history to reach that number of appearances for a single club. The other two players are Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman – both for Real Salt Lake. He is the only player to achieve that record with his original MLS club, and his service to MLS should not be underestimated.

The Sounders will be disappointed in their performance - only four shots on goal with one on target all game -however, with their experienced goalkeeper Frei making his 250th appearance for the club, they earned their fifth clean sheet  of the season and their first in their last six game. Seattle still have the best defensive record in the Western-Conference, having only conceded 17 times in as many matches.

  • Stand-out players 

It was a story of the goalkeepers and the defence in this clash, with Stefan Frei the goalkeeper kept busiest of the two shot stoppers on his 250th appearance for the away side. If it were not for Seattle striker Will Bruin heading off the line from Wondolowski’s headed effort in the first half, the Sounders could have been looking at two straight defeats - so the away side will be indebted to him as an unlikely defensive hero.

  • Teams 

San Jose Earthquakes: JT Marcinkowski, Nick Lima, Oswaldo Alanis, Florian Jungwirth, Tommy Thompson; Carlos Fierro, Judson, Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza (Shea Salinas 86); Andy Rios, Chris Wondolowski.

Substitutions: Eric Calvillo, Cade Cowell, Luis Felipe, Siad Haji, Paul Marie, Jack Skahan, Daniel Vega.

Seattle Sounders: Stefan Frei; Nouhou (Kelvin Leerdam 90+2), Shane O’Neill, Yeimar Gomez, Joao Paulo; Cristian Roldan, Jordy Delem, Nicolas Lodeiro, Alex Roldan; Jordan Morris, Will Bruin (Miguel Ibarra 82).

Substitutions: Josh Atencio, Stefan Cleveland, Justin Dhillon, Ethan Dobbelaere, Shandon Hopeau, Roman Torres.