Niko Tsakiris Scores Twice as Earthquakes Beat San Diego 3-0

San Jose moves within one point of first place in the MLS Western Conference with the victory.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:51am

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Niko Tsakiris, a 20-year-old homegrown player for the San Jose Earthquakes, scored two goals to lead his team to a 3-0 victory over San Diego FC on Saturday night. The win was the Earthquakes' fifth in their first six matches, the best start in franchise history dating back to 1974. Preston Judd added a goal and an assist as San Jose's defense recorded its fifth shutout of the young season.

Why it matters

The Earthquakes' strong start is a significant turnaround from last season, when they finished 20th overall in the MLS. Their current position near the top of the Western Conference table shows they have quickly become a contender in the league.

The details

Tsakiris opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a rising shot inside the near post after a pass from Judd. He then converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute to make it 2-0. Tsakiris, at 20 years and 289 days old, became the second youngest player in Earthquakes history to score a brace, trailing only Landon Donovan. Judd added a third goal just before halftime to give San Jose a 3-0 lead at the break. San Diego played a man down for the final 58 minutes after Manu Duah was shown a red card.

  • The Earthquakes scored all three of their goals in the first half.
  • Tsakiris scored in the 13th and 34th minutes.
  • Judd scored in the 3rd minute of first-half stoppage time.
  • Duah was sent off with a red card in the 32nd minute.

The players

Niko Tsakiris

A 20-year-old homegrown player for the San Jose Earthquakes who scored two goals in the win.

Preston Judd

Scored a goal and added an assist for the Earthquakes.

Daniel

The Earthquakes' goalkeeper who recorded his fifth shutout of the season.

Bruce Arena

The second-year head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Manu Duah

The San Diego FC player who was sent off with a red card in the 32nd minute.

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What they’re saying

“Well, (when we) broke training camp and you told me we'd be 5-1 after the first six games … I would not agree with that, so I'm very pleased.”

— Bruce Arena, Head Coach, San Jose Earthquakes

“It's amazing. I think, first and foremost, amazing to get three points tonight back at home. We're building day by day, game by game here, and to get this achievement with this group of guys, it's special.”

— Niko Tsakiris

“The career that he had and the player that he was, it's special to be with him in that same category. I still have a lot of work to do, and it's a great first step for me.”

— Niko Tsakiris

What’s next

The Earthquakes will next travel to face Sporting Kansas City, who currently sit in 16th place in the Western Conference, on Saturday night.

The takeaway

The Earthquakes' strong start to the season, including their best-ever opening six-game record, shows they have quickly become a contender in MLS after finishing near the bottom of the league last year. Their young homegrown talent, led by Niko Tsakiris, has been a key factor in their early success.