Josef Martinez scores two goals to help CF Montreal past the Earthquakes

Josef Martinez scored two goals early in the second half as CF Montreal continued its MLS playoff push with a 3-0 win over the visiting San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

Caden Clark contributed a goal and an assist and Bryce Duke had two assists for Montreal (9-12-10, 37 points), extending its unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1).

Goaltender Jonathan Sirios made one save while earning the shutout.

Daniel made seven saves for the Earthquakes (5-23-3, 18 points), who secured a finish with the fewest points in the league.

The opening goal came in the 51st minute from a Duke corner from the right wing. The 1.75 meter tall Martinez punched out San Jose defender Rodrigues, who is 6-2, just at the top of the 6-yard penalty area, practically jumped with his back to the goal and sent a powerful header to the right bottom side of the net.

Four minutes later, Montreal doubled its lead. George Campbell played a through ball to Caden Clark on the right wing. Clark dribbled to the edge of the penalty area and hit a low cross back to Martinez, whose right-footed shot from 15 meters found the bottom right corner of the net. The goals were Martinez's seventh and eighth goals of the season.

Clark equalized in the 72nd minute with a tap-in near the left post after a clever passing combination from Dawid Bugaj and Duke.

It remained scoreless at the break, although Montreal had 64.7% possession and an 11-5 advantage in shots, thanks to Daniel, who made six saves in the first half.

Daniel stopped Martinez and Nathan-Dylan Saliba in the ninth minute, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty in the 20th, Raheem Edwards in the 31st and Martinez again in the 38th and 40th minutes.

The Earthquakes' best chance of the half came in the final minute. Cristian Espinoza's free kick from 25 meters needed a rebound before bouncing off the left post and going out of bounds.

–Field level media