San Jose Earthquakes 1, FC Cincinnati 0 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

Despite playing nearly the final 40 minutes with 10 men, the San Jose Earthquakes defeated FC Cincinnati, 1-0, Saturday night at Avaya Stadium, extending an unbeaten streak to four consecutive games.

The Quakes raced in front in the 22nd minute on Nick Lima’s first goal of the season. Off a short Magnus Eriksson corner kick, Lima received the ball from Cristian Espinoza, took a settling touch before nestling his low strike into the side netting corner.

Espinoza was sent off for his second bookable offense in the 51st minute after pulling back Mathieu Deplagne. San Jose remained on the front foot and nearly added an insurance goal, but Jackson Yueill directed his shot just wide from the edge of the 18-yard box on the hour mark.

FC Cincinnati pressed for the equalizer in the final quarter hour with Fatai Alashe coming inches from scoring against his former club, latching onto a Roland Lamah cross and snapping a header on frame. But Daniel Vega leapt up to get his finger tips on the attempt, pushing it just over the crossbar.

Goals

• 22’ — SJ — Nick Lima | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Break up the Quakes! Not even a red card early in the second half can slow down San Jose, which extended an unbeaten streak to four games and moved, even if its just for the moment, above the playoff line in the West. Meanwhile, it's more frustration for FC Cincinnati, which hasn't scored in five consecutive defeats.  

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: Vega is a big reason why the Quakes took all three points with this pivotal parry over the crossbar, denying Alashe a sure equalizer against his former club.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Lima didn’t just score the game-winner, but he also made a critical clearance, intercepting a dangerous ball played into the box for a corner in the 66th minute.

Next Up

• SJ: Saturday, May 11 at New England Revolution (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
• CIN: Saturday, May 11 vs. Montreal Impact (1 pm ET | TSN, TVAS, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US)