Mar. 10, 2024 01:15 AM EST

Alessandro Schöpf, Ali Ahmed Score Goals As Whitecaps Beat Earthquakes 2-0

San Jose Earthquakes defender Vitor Costa, right, fouls Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Raposo, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 9, 2024. Vancouver won 2-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Tony Avelar, ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Jose Earthquakes defender Vitor Costa, right, fouls Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Raposo, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 9, 2024. Vancouver won 2-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Vancouver Whitecaps' Ranko Veselinovic (4) goes up for a header in front of San Jose Earthquakes' Carlos Gruezo (7) and Vitor Costa (94) during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 9, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. Vancouver won 2-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Vancouver Whitecaps' Alessandro Schoepf, left, looks back as he celebrates with Andrés Cubas (20) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 9, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. Vancouver won 2-0. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Vancouver Whitecaps players celebrate a 2-0 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes in an MLS soccer match in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 9, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alessandro Schöpf scored his first MLS goal in more than a year to help the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 Saturday night.

Schöpf opened the scoring in the 74th minute when he beat goalkeeper Daniel De Sousa Britto — known as “Daniel” — with a low shot from just outside the penalty area. Ryan Gauld's corner kick was re-directed on a clearance attempt but went straight to Schöpf, whose one-touch shot bounced off the outstretched arm of a diving Daniel into the net.

Schöpf scored for the first time since March 4, 2023 when he had a goal at San Jose.

Ali Ahmed came on in the 62nd minute for Luís Martins and scored in the 86th to give Vancouver (1-0-1) a 2-0 lead. The 23-year-old beat a defender to win a free ball and create some space to blast a side-netter inside the far post.

San Jose (0-3-0) has a minus-6 goal differential this season.

Yohei Takaoka had two saves, and his first shutout of the season, for the Whitecaps.

___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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