Seattle Sounders 7-1 San Jose Earthquakes: MLS champs in seventh heaven after record-setting display

Seattle Sounders made league history after the MLS champions humiliated San Jose Earthquakes 7-1.

The Sounders became the quickest team to score five goals in an MLS game, requiring just 33 minutes to achieve the feat against the Earthquakes on Thursday.

Seattle – whose six-goal margin of victory is the largest in club history – also tied the record for the most goals scored before half-time in MLS, following in the footsteps of Dallas (2017) and Chicago Fire (2019).

The Sounders fell just one goal short of the all-time MLS record for most goals scored in a match, held by LA Galaxy (1998), as they moved back to the top of the Western Conference.

5 – @SoundersFC scored 5 goals in the first half against San Jose, tying the @MLS record for goals before halftime. Flying. pic.twitter.com/OZBuQyAxHS

— OptaJack (@OptaJack) September 11, 2020

Jordan Morris opened the scoring in the fourth minute at CenturyLink Field and it was a sign of things to come against the visiting Earthquakes.

Raul Ruidiaz doubled the lead eight minutes later before Kelvin Leerdam and Joevin Jones got in on the action by the 20-minute mark in Seattle.

Ruidiaz made it 5-0 in the 33rd minute following a swift attacking move, while Joao Paulo and Jones piled on more misery early in the second half.

Four minutes of Sounders glory.

The unbelievably epic #SEAvSJ Match Highlights pic.twitter.com/MNWZSZXyiB

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) September 11, 2020

Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski converted a penalty with 19 minutes remaining for his MLS-leading 163rd career goal and fourth of the season for San Jose, who suffered the heaviest defeat in their history.

The Sounders are a point clear of Minnesota United atop the west, while the Earthquakes languish at the foot of the table following nine games.