SEASIDE, Calif. – Walmer Martinez found the net as Monterey Bay F.C. fell 2-1 to Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes in the club’s opening match of the 2023 preseason at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday night.

The match began quickly as both sides created chances in the early stages. In the 13th minute, Monterey Bay’s Sam Gleadle crossed the ball into the box towards Martinez, but he was not able to connect cleanly and the ball went out for a goal kick. Three minutes later, Gleadle was sprung on a counterattack, but the Quakes goalkeeper beat him to the ball to knock it away. MBFC’s Christian Volesky gained possession, continued the break for the Union and earned a corner, but it was cleared away by the visitors.

San Jose’s first good opportunity arrived in the 23rd minute, but the shot was saved by Monterey Bay goalkeeper Carlos Herrera. The Quakes looked to capitalize following a turnover in the midfield by Monterey Bay, but Hugh Roberts applied pressure and the shot missed to the left. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, however, as Jeremy Ebobisse volleyed home from close range off a cross by Cristian Espinoza.

It didn’t take long for Monterey Bay to equalize, however, as Martinez curled a left-footed shot into the top-left corner of the net to level the match just before the halftime break. After scoring the first goal in Cardinale Stadium’s history a season ago, the El Salvador international struck the opening goal for the club this preseason.

The second half began with wholesale changes for the hosts. Three minutes after the break, Morey Doner crossed a ball into the penalty area following a run down the right that found Gleadle, but his chance to take the lead was saved. Doner fired another dangerous cross into the box in the 66th minute, but it was blocked by a San Jose defender and cleared away.

San Jose regained the lead with five minutes to go as a corner kick by Niko Tsakiris was headed home by Daniel Munie inside the left post. Monterey Bay tried to equalize with one final chance late in the match, but Chase Boone’s low pass to Jess Maldonado inside the six-yard box was deflected away by the outstretched leg of an Earthquakes defender.