SAN JOSE – Daniel Munie, who turned 26 earlier this month, said he hadn’t scored two goals in one game since he was in middle school. Still, the defender was proud of something else in the San Jose Earthquakes’ season-opening 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City – a clean sheet.
The Quakes allowed just one shot on goal, and Munie’s brace provided more than enough offense in front of 16,367 on a chilly Saturday night at PayPal Park.
“The goals are great, but getting the shutout was more important,” said Munie. “Especially after last year, we didn’t get shut down very often.”
The Quakes allowed 63 goals last year – with only three teams scoring more – and conceded just five goals as they failed to make the playoffs in the first year under five-time MLS champion Bruce Arena.
But in the first game in 2026, the Black and Blue looked dominant behind a new defensive formation and a rebuilt attack. Here are the biggest takeaways:
SUBMITTED CHANGE
After losing Josef Martinez (14 goals last season), Chicho Arango (13 goals) and Cristian Espinoza (12 assists), the Quakes enter the 2026 season with questions about where the goals will come from – especially since star signing Timo Werner’s arrival has been delayed due to a visa issue.
On Saturday, it came from an unexpected source. Munie’s two goals matched his total in his first 44 games.
The 6-foot defender opened the scoring in the 42nd minute. After striker Preston Judd headed Niko Tsakiris’s corner towards goal, Munie pounced. Munie completed the scoring with a header in the 54th minute that was deflected by Beau Leroux.
“Great service, great delivery from our partners, and hard work from everyone,” said Munie. “I think most goals come from inside the 6-[yard box]. It doesn’t have to be good. Getting a strong goal, as my boy Preston always said.”
Munie was selected by the Quakes in the first round of the 2023 draft after being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice while at Indiana.
The Quakes’ other goal, in the first minute of the first half, was scored by Judd, the team’s returning scorer (seven).
Winger Jamar Ricketts made a great run down the left flank and received a perfect ball from Tsakiris. Ricketts cut the ball to Judd, who put it into the back of the net.
The Quakes finished with 18 shots – six on goal – and a 3.9 expected goals.
STRONG DEFENSE
The Quakes went from three to four back this season as part of a 4-2-3-1. Munie and 22-year-old Reid Roberts, the team’s 2025 first-round draft pick out of USF, were in the middle, with DeJuan Jones at left back and Benji Kikanovic at right back.
Ronaldo Vieira, who appeared in six games for the Quakes last season from Italy, was named captain in Espinoza’s departure and has been a constant presence in the middle of the defense.
Daniel was forced to make a strong save in the 49th minute, diving to his left to stop a shot from 10 yards out. But otherwise the Quakes weren’t threatened much, and Sporting KC ended up with an xG of 0.5 on six shots.
“We’re a good running back. We have good speed,” Arena said. “Defensively, we were solid against a team that, to their credit, moves the ball very well. They weren’t that dangerous in the final third, but they are a possession team, and they made us work.”
The Quakes also recorded shutouts in two of their three preseason games.
“I think it worked well in pre-season. We have good communication right now, and I’m really happy with how it went today,” Munie said. “I think we didn’t give up too many chances either. I feel like we kept the game in front of us. It’s a good job changing, good communication. I’m looking forward to how the year will go.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Although it was a solid performance, Arena was quick to put it right. Coming in last place in the Western Conference, Sporting KC was ranked last among all 30 teams in the MLS preseason power rankings by both The Athletic and MLS Soccer (the Quakes were ranked 26th and 21st on both lists, respectively).
The Quakes won 4-0 at home against Real Salt Lake in last year’s season opener, and followed it up with a win in their second game, but ended up losing to Real Salt Lake in the final.
“It’s the season opener, everything is busy,” said Arena. “It doesn’t look good, but he’s doing well. We have to play 33 more games. Last year, we won our first two games. It’s important to get three points. We need to acknowledge the fact that we need to improve.”
Arena expected Werner to be available for the next game, Saturday at PayPal against Atlanta United. Atlanta opened their season with a 2-0 loss to Cincinnati.
Jonathan González, who hails from Santa Rosa from Liga MX, made his Earthquakes debut in the 83rd minute. Apart from that, all 16 players who appeared for the Quakes were in the team last season.
“The reason why we don’t do much in the offseason is because we feel that this group of players we have has great potential,” said Arena. In time they will become very good players. I think you saw some of those tonight.”
