Earthquakes stun third-place Real Salt Lake in 2-0 road win

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Cristian Espinoza and Amahl Pellegrino scored first-half goals and the last-place San Jose Earthquakes knocked off Real Salt Lake in a surprising 2-0 road victory on Saturday night.

The Earthquakes (5-19-2), who entered play as the worst team in the league with just 14 points through three-quarters of the season, took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute on Espinoza’s fourth goal of the campaign.

Jackson Yueill notched his second assist on the score by intercepting a Salt Lake pass in the middle of the pitch and passing wide to Espinoza, who blasted a shot off the hands of RSL keeper Zach McMath and in for his 100th MLS goal contribution (32 goals, 68 assists) as an Earthquake.

“It means a lot,” the 29-year-old Argentine said of his milestone goal at a postgame press conference. “Since I came here in 2019, I never expected to achieve all these numbers.”

San Jose grabbed a two-goal lead in the 33rd minute and took it into halftime when Amahl Pellegrino cleaned up a rebound off the post following a free kick into the penalty area by Espinoza. Pellegrino has six goals in his first season in the league, covering 18 starts and 24 appearances.

Daniel De Sousa Britto finished with four saves in goal for San Jose, earning his second clean sheet in his fifth start and ninth appearance this season.

“We won the ball in really good areas, and we have a lot of pace to go forward. I was just happy with the consistent 94-minute performance on the road,” Quakes interim coach Ian Russell told media after the match. “I feel like it was a really complete win. I told the guys the last six or seven games have been really, really good. We haven’t won them all, obviously, but ever since the (July 17) Houston game at home, we started showing a lot of fight.”

RSL’s Cristian Arango limped off the field with a right hamstring injury in the 41st minute after he was fouled by San Jose midfielder Carlos Gruezo with his team already down two goals. He was replaced by Anderson Julio. Arango and D.C. United’s Christian Benteke are tied for the league lead in the race for the Golden Boot with 17 goals this season.

Zac MacMath turned away three shots for Real Salt Lake (12-6-8).

Real Salt Lake, which is third in the Western Conference, and San Jose met for the first time this season.

The Quakes earned just their second win in 13 road games.

The Earthquakes return home to play Minnesota United on Saturday. Real Salt Lake will host the New England Revolution on Saturday.