SAN JOSE — Despite the changes and upheaval this summer, the Earthquakes began the final third of the Major League Soccer season Saturday in an all-too similar position.
They met the Columbus Crew at less-than-full Avaya Stadium needing a victory to remain in the playoff conversation.
This wasn’t any kind of must-win situation. That usually doesn’t come until the last embers of the regular season cool.
Still, San Jose (9-9-5, 32 points) cannot afford to fall behind because its margin of error is supermodel thin.
The Earthquakes seemed to shake off the haze of losing three on the road last month by earning the three points they needed in a stadium where San Jose has lost just once in 14 games since last season.