Chris Wondolowski Keeps San Jose Earthquakes First in 9–2–1 Start

The san jose earthquakes are 9–2–1 and sitting first in the Supporters Shield race. That start has pushed them into a place they had not occupied since 2012, after entering the 2026 season with a huge amount of questions.

Wondolowski’s 22nd Goal

Chris Wondolowski added his 22nd goal of the season by deflecting a shot with the inside of his leg past Michael Gspurning. It was the kind of finish that keeps San Jose in front of the league pack while the season is still taking shape.

Seattle had already beaten San Jose 1–0 in March, a reminder that the Earthquakes’ early run has not come without resistance. The Sounders were also the side that met San Jose in the September 2012 Heritage Cup match, when Seattle arrived after losing its previous two matches to the California club.

CenturyLink Field And The Heritage Cup

That tournament exists for MLS teams tied to NASL-era histories, and San Jose and Seattle were the only clubs eligible when Seattle joined MLS in 2009. The Heritage Cup was created by Earthquakes fan Rob Stevenson, giving this matchup a longer thread than a single league result.

Seattle and San Jose played that September 2012 match at CenturyLink Field before 38,948 fans. Simon Dawkins scored from outside the box in the second minute after a miscommunication between Steve Zakuani and Leo Gonzales, and Zakuani answered 12 minutes later after Sammy Ochoa slid a pass across the face of goal.

San Jose’s 2012 Benchmark

The 2012 season still matters in San Jose’s current position because the Earthquakes had not held a lead over the rest of the league since then. A 9–2–1 start changes the pressure on every opponent that comes next, because San Jose is no longer trying to prove the run is real — it is already on top of the Shield race.