Analysis

Sounders Hoist Heritage Cup, Survive Injuries to Beat ‘Quakes

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Pedro de la Vega launches the ball during a game against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 19, 2025 at Lumen Field. (Jane Gershovich / Sounders FC) [/caption]

It wasn’t pretty, but the Seattle Sounders pulled out a 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes to get back in the win column for the second time this month on Saturday night. The win places the Sounders at 10-7-6, firmly in the middle of the Western Conference playoff picture.

The victory also secures the Heritage Cup for Seattle, an honor awarded to the winner of the Seattle-San Jose series as an homage to both cities’ history as former NASL sides. It was Seattle’s first Heritage Cup win since 2021.

An injury to Jordan Morris early on, a brace from Daniel Musovski, and a timely strike from Pedro de la Vega headlined a morale boosting win for the Rave Green at Lumen Field.

A Slow Start Meets a Big Injury Setback

The Sounders had gotten out to 3-0 leads in their past two contests, leaving the issue of protecting a lead at the top of skipper Brian Schmetzer’s mind. Saturday night provided a different challenge.

Both squads spent the first 10 minutes feeling each other out before Sounders star Jordan Morris collided with San Jose keeper Daniel in the 12th minute. Daniel was the lower part of the equation, sending Morris, who's been dealing with a hamstring injury all summer, whirling into the air and down hard on his left shoulder.

After about three minutes on the pitch, the forward was helped off the field and replaced by Daniel Musovski.

Schmetzer had an update regarding Morris in the postgame, indicating the veteran would be out indefinitely and need a procedure early next week.

“It’s an AC joint in his shoulder. He will have to have surgery on that, that’ll be on Tuesday,” Schmetzer said, adding that a return timeline would be contingent on the outcome of that operation.

The Sounders would concede the game’s first goal in the 26th minute, as Preston Judd scored for San Jose. With Morris in the locker room and with their work cut out for them on the scoreboard, the Sounders needed to get busy.

The Mus’ Was Loose

The Quakes may have struck first, but even with their all-time leading scorer sidelined, Seattle refused to despair. Musovski found an answer on a tremendous header with service from Albert Rusnák just a minute after San Jose’s seemingly demoralizing goal. Getting on the board quickly was just what the doctor ordered to stop a spiral, as Schmetzer credited his squad for its timely response postgame.

But goal seven of the season may not have compared to goal eight for Musovski.

Tied 1-1 in the 54th minute, the 29-year old ran parallel to Pedro de la Vega and redirected a perfect right-footed pass from the left side of the box with his forehead to sneak the ball past Daniel. After a lengthy review, in which it was clear just how close Musovski was to being offside, the goal and lead were awarded to Seattle.

“Credit to him. He’s been a valuable backup in a lot of moments this year … so we’ll need to rely on him and make sure that he continues to perform well,” Schmetzer said of Musovski.

Unfortunately for Musovski and company, the hits kept rolling in.

A follow-up strike from in close by Cristian Arango after a missed penalty made it 2-2 as Seattle now needed some more magic to pick up the win.

De la Vega Strikes Back

Pedro de la Vega’s confidence in this match was apparent from early on. He had picked up an assist on Musovski’s second score, and by the 65th minute, he had carved out a decent game for himself.

The young Argentine wasn’t satisfied, however.

A quick counterattack and lead pass from Cristian Roldan had the 24-year old in a 1-on-1 situation in the 69th minute. With the game hanging in the balance, de la Vega took a decisive swing at the ball from the left end of the 18-yard box and netted one to the right side of the goal. It was a bold move, and it’s earning the young forward points with his coach.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about what the final starting group of the team is, and Pedro has now played his way into a conversation on the left side of the field,” Schmetzer said.

Andrew Thomas Saves the Day

With the game stuck at 3-2 as seven minutes of added time were announced, keeper Andrew Thomas came alive. Stepping in for the injured Stefan Frei this season, Thomas proved he belonged with two massive saves in the 94th and 97th minutes to preserve the win.

The second shot stopped a weakly hit strike off a perfect volley, while the first save stopped a shot that likely would have been called back for offside. Regardless, the emotion from the 26-year old was clear.

With all the disappointment of a win slipping away just days prior, Schmetzer felt the need to show his keeper some love. He stopped the postgame presser to elaborate on what Thomas’ effort meant to the win.

“He was upset with himself for the penalty that he gave up in the last game. And as a young goalkeeper, to come back after a situation like that, and have a performance like that … I thought he was fantastic tonight.”