San Jose Earthquakes vs Atlanta United FC

San Jose made it count at PayPal Park, grinding out a 2-0 victory over Atlanta that was far more comfortable than the possession stats might suggest. The Earthquakes went in ahead at the break and never looked back, with Jamar Ricketts putting on a commanding display at the heart of their defense. Atlanta had more of the ball—54 percent to San Jose's 46—but struggled to create anything meaningful in front of goal, managing just one shot on target across the ninety minutes. The home side's clinical finishing was the real story here. While Atlanta pressed for spells, San Jose made their limited chances count, with five shots finding the target compared to their opponents' one. Seven corners proved a potent weapon too, keeping Atlanta honest throughout. This was the kind of win that doesn't look pretty on the eye but feels absolutely essential come the end of the season, and Ricketts' rock-solid performance ensured the backline held firm when it mattered most.

San Jose Earthquakes beat Atlanta United FC 2-0 at PayPal Park, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. San Jose Earthquakes also had the better share of the ball, holding 46% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 11 attempts from San Jose Earthquakes against 8 from Atlanta United FC over the course of the game. Atlanta United FC had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.