Rothrock, Thomas lead Sounders to 1-0 win over Earthquakes

Seattle extends unbeaten start to MLS season with victory over San Jose

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:49am

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Paul Rothrock scored the lone goal in the 20th minute and goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made seven saves to lead the Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday. The win extends Seattle's unbeaten start to the 2026 MLS season.

Why it matters

The Sounders continue to build momentum early in the season, while the Earthquakes' strong start to the year comes to an end. This result could have implications for the Western Conference standings and playoff race as the season progresses.

The details

Rothrock scored the game-winning goal on a counter-attack, with Jesus Ferreira playing a through ball to Rothrock who slotted it past the goalkeeper. Thomas made several key saves, including a diving stop in stoppage time, to preserve the clean sheet. The Earthquakes had a goal disallowed in the 74th minute due to offside, and Seattle's Cody Baker also saw a goal negated by an offside call in the 86th minute.

  • The match was played on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Rothrock scored the lone goal in the 20th minute.
  • Thomas made seven saves, including a diving stop in stoppage time.

The players

Paul Rothrock

The Seattle Sounders forward scored the game-winning goal in the 20th minute.

Andrew Thomas

The Seattle Sounders goalkeeper made seven saves to record the clean sheet.

Jesus Ferreira

The Seattle Sounders midfielder provided the assist on Rothrock's goal.

Daniel De Sousa Britto

The San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper made three saves in the match.

Cody Baker

The Seattle Sounders homegrown player had a goal disallowed in the 86th minute due to offside.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Sounders will host the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday, leading 3-0 after the first leg. Their next MLS match is Sunday at Minnesota FC.

The takeaway

The Sounders continue to show their strength early in the 2026 season, with Rothrock's goal and Thomas' goalkeeping leading them to a hard-fought victory over the previously unbeaten Earthquakes. This result keeps Seattle near the top of the Western Conference standings as they look to build on their early-season success.