Earthquakes Rally Late, Fall Short in 4-2 Loss to FC Cincinnati

A Hard-Fought Effort Falls Short

The San Jose Earthquakes displayed resilience and attacking intent on Sunday, August 2, 2026, but ultimately fell short against FC Cincinnati in a six-goal affair at TQL Stadium. Despite mounting a spirited second-half charge that saw them erase two separate deficits, the visiting side could not find the equalizer needed to salvage a point, ending with a 4-2 loss.

Goals and Key Moments

San Jose struck first, taking an early lead through Daniel Munie in the 26th minute. However, FC Cincinnati responded promptly, with Bryan Ramírez leveling the score at 1-1 just seven minutes later in the 33rd minute. The Earthquakes regained the lead before halftime when Timo Werner found the net in the 56th minute, sending the visitors into the break with a 2-1 advantage.

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. FC Cincinnati equalized in the 79th minute through Tom Barlow, reigniting their hopes. They quickly took the lead for the first time when Evander scored in the 82nd minute.

San Jose pushed hard for a late equalizer, but FC Cincinnati sealed the victory with a goal from Ayoub Jabbari in stoppage time, specifically at the 90+5' mark.

Statistical Highlights

While the result favored the home side, individual performances stood out for both clubs. Preston Judd led all players in total shots with five attempts for San Jose. Angus Gunn, the Earthquakes' goalkeeper, was busy throughout the match, making seven saves in an effort to keep his team in the game.

For FC Cincinnati, Kenji Mboma Dem was the most active attacker, registering four total shots.

Season Implications

The loss drops San Jose Earthquakes to a record of 10-3-5. FC Cincinnati improves their standing to 7-5-6. The match concluded as a regular-season fixture with no playoff implications or series context provided. Both teams continue their campaigns with the next steps in their schedules yet to be determined.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/761700