San Jose Earthquakes under Ian Russell beat St. Louis City

ST. LOUIS – The San Jose Earthquakes are the worst team in Major League Soccer, by far.

Facing a St. Louis City team that hadn't won a game in nearly two months and had allowed 20 goals in its last nine games, the Earthquakes suffered a 2-0 loss on Wednesday, extending their losing streak to seven games.

San Jose's next game is at home against Chicago on Sunday.

Hosei Kijima scored his first MLS goal and Eduard Löwen also scored for St. Louis, which ended a nine-game winless streak.

Löwen fired a ball between two defenders on the left side, past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Will Yarbrough and into the web to provide St. Louis (4-7-10) a 1-0 lead within the twenty eighth minute.

Kijima made it 2-0 with a volley from a set piece within the forty first minute. Indiana Vassilev curled a wonderfully placed free kick over a line of defenders to Kijima, who needed to slot it home.

On Monday, St. Louis fired head coach Bradley Carnell and temporarily replaced him with technical director John Hackworth.

But in San Jose, a change of coach could hardly change the team's turnaround.

With a record of 3-14-2, the Earthquakes fired Luchi Gonzalez on June 24. At the time, San Jose was on a seven-game winless streak and had a league-worst 51 goals against and a minus-22 goal differential.

Assistant Ian Russell temporarily took over as head coach from Gonzalez, but in his first game on June 29, San Jose lost 3-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

San Jose (3-16-2) is now winless in 10 straight games – with only one draw – and has the fewest points in MLS with 11. Kansas City has 17 points and is thirteenth within the Western Conference.

Yarbrough finished with six saves for the Earthquakes.

Roman Bürki, who blocked a shot, recorded his sixth shutout of the season for St. Louis.

St. Louis had 57% possession and outscored San Jose in shots 23-7, with the goal being scored 8-1.

image credit : www.mercurynews.com