Alessandro Schöpf, Ali Ahmed score goals as Whitecaps beat Earthquakes 2-0
Vancouver Whitecaps' Alessandro Schoepf (8) celebrates with Ryan Raposo (7), Ryan Gauld, right, and Andrés Cubas, left, after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 9, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. Vancouver won 2-0. Credit: AP/Tony Avelar
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alessandro Schöpf scored his first MLS goal in more than a year to help the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 Saturday night.
Schöpf opened the scoring in the 74th minute when he beat goalkeeper Daniel De Sousa Britto — known as “Daniel” — with a low shot from just outside the penalty area. Ryan Gauld's corner kick was re-directed on a clearance attempt but went straight to Schöpf, whose one-touch shot bounced off the outstretched arm of a diving Daniel into the net.
Schöpf scored for the first time since March 4, 2023 when he had a goal at San Jose.
Ali Ahmed came on in the 62nd minute for Luís Martins and scored in the 86th to give Vancouver (1-0-1) a 2-0 lead. The 23-year-old beat a defender to win a free ball and create some space to blast a side-netter inside the far post.
San Jose (0-3-0) has a minus-6 goal differential this season.
Yohei Takaoka had two saves, and his first shutout of the season, for the Whitecaps.