San Jose Earthquakes expose Real Salt Lake as MLS frauds in brutal takedown | OneFootball

San Jose Earthquakes did not just defeat their 2025 MLS season opener, but dominated their adversary. Before a loud gathering of fans at PayPal Park, the California side took apart Real Salt Lake with an imposing 4-0 victory, leaving one with no uncertainty who controlled each corner of the pitch.

If doubts were ever going to arise about San Jose's potential this season, they were dispelled after this show. With Cristian Espinoza playing the way he played, conducting plays like a conductor and racking up assists, the Quakes gave Real Salt Lake no time to catch its breath.

RSL tried to create a defense early, but San Jose overwhelmed them with its firepower and precision. The home squad was unified, fast, and lethal at the right times.

A balanced start that didn't last

Real Salt Lake traveled to California hoping to do more than witness San Jose give an exhibition. Diego Luna was busy early, harrying the visiting keeper and making it appear as though this game might be competitive.

That facade was short-lived. In the 28th minute, San Jose got on the board. Cristian Espinoza, the maestro of the evening, picked out Beau Leroux on the box perimeter. The newly promoted midfielder was not about to squander the opportunity to prove he had a place. His beautiful low pass flowed into the path of Jamar Ricketts, who was barreling into the box and finding the back of the net with his first career MLS goal.

From there on, the match completely flipped around. San Jose was in control, dictating the tempo, and penned RSL in their half, waiting for the perfect time to mount yet another attack.

San Jose shuts door in 14 minutes

If Real Salt Lake were going to have any hope of staging a second-half rally, they were crushed before they even had a chance to start happening. San Jose waited patiently and when the moment presented itself, they added the final touches in ruthless fashion.

It was Espinoza once again directing the action at the 70th minute. His perfectly placed corner kick fell to Rodrigues, who did not miss, heading the ball past a helpless Rafael Cabral. It was a simple goal, but it served to highlight RSL's defensive disarray.

And just four minutes later, San Jose scored once more. Espinoza, naturally, spotted Ousseni Bouda breaking behind the defense. His chip was perfectly measured, and Bouda took advantage to the fullest, staying calm and sending the ball between the keeper's legs.

Real Salt Lake was done by then. The fourth and final goal, in the 83rd minute, was the icing on the cake. Mark-Anthony Kaye headed a low cross across to Vitor Costa, who was left completely unmarked to tap in. Game over.

Real Salt Lake: no answers, no resistance

RSL may have started magnificently, but as soon as they conceded that first goal, they fell apart. The team had opportunities in the first half, but inaccuracy, lack of confidence, and poor organization were their undoing.

When San Jose mounted pressure, mistakes began to accumulate. The defense, already not so good to start with, fell apart under the waves of Quakes attacks and couldn't cope with crosses, set plays, and through balls.

Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral did his best to hold back the tide, making a few good saves, but could not stop the flow. At the end of the whistle, Real Salt Lake took the field with no clear identity and in quest of answers.

San Jose Earthquakes make a statement, but can they keep it up?

This was not just a win for San Jose, it was a statement. A 4-0 trouncing in the opener not only gives three points, but is an announcement to the league as a whole. If Espinoza keeps delivering assists, if the defense keeps being solid, and if the offense keeps playing this way, the Quakes can be a behemoth in 2025.

But the MLS season is long, and a fine beginning is meaningless if they fail to maintain this form. The challenge now is to maintain the momentum and demonstrate that this was not an opening-night spectacle.

In the meantime, Real Salt Lake needs answers yesterday. This kind of loss has the potential to knock a team's confidence at this point in the season, and if they do not figure out their defense and get some flow going up front, it could be a tough season ahead.

For the match, however, San Jose Earthquakes are riding high, and Real Salt Lake is picking up the pieces.