Defender Daniel Munie scored two goals as the San Jose Earthquakes defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-0, marking Rapha Wicky’s first game as head coach for SKC on Saturday night.
Preston Judd contributed with a goal, while Munie recorded one save for his 13th career shutout, including regular season and playoffs. San Jose outshot Kansas City 18 to 7 and led 6 to 1 in shots on target. The Earthquakes also had a significant advantage in corner kicks, 15 to 3.
This was Munie’s first career brace. At 26 years old, he was the 10th overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft from Indiana University. Previously, he had only scored two goals in 35 MLS matches.
John Pulskamp made three saves for Sporting Kansas City.
San Jose dominated the first half, outshooting SKC 11 to 3, and scored twice in a four-minute span before halftime to lead 2-0.
Munie opened the scoring in the 42nd minute by tapping in a left-footed rebound from a Judd header during a corner kick.
Judd added a goal just before halftime, redirecting a crossing pass from Jamar Ricketts with a sliding left-footed effort that found the center of the net.
Kansas City had an opportunity to narrow the score in the 49th minute, but Munie made a diving save to block a shot from Calvin Harris aimed at the left corner.
Munie then scored again in the 54th minute, flicking a header from the center of the box off a Beau Leroux cross that hit the left post and went in.
After Munie’s goal, Kansas City only managed one decent attempt, with Dejan Joveljic missing a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 73rd minute, sending it wide left.