Quakes strike twice in 17 minutes, drop RSL below the playoff line
San Jose's 2-1 win at PayPal Park lifted the Earthquakes to third in the West and left Real Salt Lake in 10th with one match to save their season.
One weekend remains in the MLS regular season, and Saturday's result at PayPal Park moved both ends of the Western Conference playoff picture: San Jose climbed to third with their best points haul in over a decade, while Real Salt Lake slipped below the line with only Decision Day left to climb back.
Two goals in 17 minutes
The Earthquakes barely let their final home game of the regular season begin before deciding it. Ousseni Bouda scored from close range in the 2nd minute, converting off a free kick won when Dominik Marczuk fouled Jamar Ricketts near the goal line. In the 17th, Benji Kikanović poked home Ricketts' cross at the end of a move built by Niko Tsakiris and Preston Judd, and San Jose led 2-0.
RSL answered quickly — JuanMa Sanabria headed in Sam Junqua's left-wing cross in the 23rd minute, his second goal of the season — but despite chances at both ends after halftime, the score never changed.
What it means
San Jose moved to 52 points, third in the Western Conference and the club's highest total since 2013, per the Earthquakes' match recap. The top four seeds in each conference host Round One of the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs, so the quick start mattered well beyond one afternoon. The Quakes close the regular season at Minnesota United on November 7.
For RSL, the loss ended a three-game winning streak and dropped the club (12-6-15, 42 points) to 10th in the West, below the playoff line, according to the club's own recap. That sets up a must-win Decision Day finale at home against the LA Galaxy on November 7 at America First Field. One subplot to watch there: rookie Sergi Solans needs three goals in the finale to match Cyle Larin's all-time MLS rookie scoring record of 17.