Sacha Kljestan goal helps Red Bulls beat San Jose, move into first

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:18 am

HARRISON, N.J. -- Sacha Kljestan and Mike Grella scored first-half goals and the New York Red Bulls beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 on Friday night.

New York (3-0-2) moved into first place in the Eastern Conference and is one of two teams without a loss this season.

"It's been a good start," coach Jesse Marsch said. "We've concentrated on staying focused and not being satisfied. Tonight we came out and, from the start, created chances and got a 2-0 lead and made sure that we weren't going to give it away."

Kljestan started the scoring in the 29th minute. Felipe's cross split two defenders and Bradley Wright-Phillips' poke fell to Kljestan's feet for a tap in.

New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan celebrates after scoring his team's first goal in a 2-0 win versus the San Jose Earthquakes.
Jim O'Connor/USA TODAY Sports

"I think I just found my way in the box," Kljestan said. "We created some turnovers in the first half and we created a few chances off them."

New York scored 6 minutes later when Lloyd Sam's cross found an unmarked Grella at the far post for an easy finish.

Luis Robles made two big saves in the 83rd and 84th minutes to earn his second shutout of the season.

San Jose (3-4-0) conceded the first goal in its fourth straight road game. It hasn't won at New York during the regular season since 2005.

"We started off the game poorly," Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear said. "Got punished for giving the ball away in good areas for them, bad areas for us and then they came out with a different attitude, came out better in the second half. Just couldn't score a goal."