Roaring Earthquakes out to carry home success on road at Union

San Jose looks to continue strong start as Philadelphia tries to find its footing in attack

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The Philadelphia Union will host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night, with the Earthquakes looking to continue their strong start to the season after winning their first two matches at home. The Union, on the other hand, have struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only once in their first two games despite creating chances. San Jose's new star import, Timo Werner, made his MLS debut off the bench in the team's last match and registered an assist, providing a boost to the Earthquakes' attack.

Why it matters

This matchup pits two teams heading in opposite directions early in the season. The Union, one of the league's top teams last year, are trying to find their footing after losing key offensive pieces in the offseason. Meanwhile, the Earthquakes have been impressive in their first two games and the addition of Werner could make them an even more dangerous team going forward.

The details

Philadelphia (0-2-0, 0 points) has scored only once in its opening two matches, despite being one of the league's leading sides in terms of getting the ball into the final third. Union manager Bradley Carnell said the team is 'missing a little bit of that final-third creativity, chemistry, alignment.' The Union have also had some disciplinary issues, with Ezekiel Alladoh being sent off in the season opener and Olwethu Makhanya receiving a second yellow card last weekend. San Jose (2-0-0, 6 points), on the other hand, has outscored opponents 5-0 in its first two matches at home. Werner made his MLS debut off the bench in the team's last game and registered an assist, providing a boost to the Earthquakes' attack.

  • The Philadelphia Union will host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night (March 7, 2026).
  • Timo Werner made his MLS debut off the bench for the Earthquakes in their last match on March 1, 2026.

The players

Bradley Carnell

The manager of the Philadelphia Union.

Timo Werner

A new star import for the San Jose Earthquakes, previously playing for RB Leipzig, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Ezekiel Alladoh

A 20-year-old striker who joined the Philadelphia Union this season and was sent off in the team's season-opening defeat.

Olwethu Makhanya

A Philadelphia Union player who received a second yellow card in stoppage time last weekend, leading to a late loss.

Jamar Ricketts

A midfielder for the San Jose Earthquakes who spoke about the impact of Timo Werner joining the team.

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What they’re saying

“I think we're getting where we need to be and want to be. We're just missing a little bit of that final-third creativity, chemistry, alignment.”

— Bradley Carnell, Union manager (statenews.net)

“Timo coming in definitely brought a lot of experience and knowledge, and with the way he plays, it just pushes everybody to work hard. He plays at a high level every day and he's definitely here to help the team, which excites everybody.”

— Jamar Ricketts, Earthquakes midfielder (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Philadelphia Union will be looking to find their scoring touch and discipline as they host the San Jose Earthquakes, who will be aiming to continue their strong start to the season with the help of new star Timo Werner.

The takeaway

This matchup showcases the contrasting fortunes of the two teams early in the season. The Union are struggling to find their footing in attack and with discipline, while the Earthquakes have been impressive and have added a high-profile player in Werner to bolster their offense. The outcome of this game could set the tone for the rest of the season for both clubs.