Overview
- San Jose, which erupted for five goals after halftime Wednesday, improved to 8-1-0 with a fifth straight win and moved into first place in the Western Conference.
- Austin led 1-0 at the break through Joseph Rosales before Jack Jasinski headed in his first MLS goal in the 58th minute to level the match.
- Timo Werner buried a 78th-minute penalty for his first goal at PayPal Park, and Preston Judd struck in the 83rd and 89th as part of a four-goal burst in eight minutes.
- The Earthquakes’ late run came against an Austin lineup short on regulars, with Owen Wolff, Dani Pereira, Myrto Uzuni, Jayden Nelson and Oleksandr Svatok not in the starting XI.
- The result marks San Jose’s first time atop the West since 2012 and reflects a season-long shift built on a coordinated press and young standouts such as midfielder Niko Tsakiris.