Timo Werner Sets Up Ousséni Bouda in MLS Debut as San Jose Earthquakes Beat Atlanta United 2-0

Timo Werner's MLS career was less than 20 minutes old when he produced its first highlight. The new San Jose Earthquakes forward burst down the right, slid a cross across the face of goal and watched Ousséni Bouda finish from point-blank range. PayPal Park got the welcome party it wanted.

San Jose beat Atlanta United 2-0 on Saturday, with Preston Judd heading the opener in the 24th minute and Werner, who replaced Judd in the 61st for his MLS debut, setting up Bouda in the 79th. The Earthquakes are 2-0-0 with two clean sheets, and Atlanta is still looking for its first goal of the season.

The Press Pays Off

San Jose came out hunting. Atlanta's own recap described an aggressive Earthquakes press, and the shots came early: DeJuan Jones fired wide in the 6th minute, Judd went close in the 8th and forced Lucas Hoyos into a save in the 9th, and Benji Kikanovic tested Hoyos from a tight angle in the 10th.

Atlanta's first real looks arrived around the 20-minute mark. Emmanuel Latte Lath, already booked in the 16th minute, had a shot blocked in the 19th, and Steven Alzate's long-range effort off a corner a minute later narrowly missed the top right corner.

Then San Jose cashed in. According to the AP, Atlanta turned the ball over in its own half in the 24th minute, and Jamar Ricketts raced to the left corner of the box and lofted a cross to the front post. Judd guided a header into the bottom right corner, and the Quakes led 1-0.

The rest of the half was scrappy. Bouda blazed over from a tight angle in the 35th minute, Latte Lath did the same from distance in the 36th, and Cooper Sanchez picked up Atlanta's second yellow card in the 39th.

Enter Werner

Atlanta coach Tata Martino tweaked things at halftime, per the club, but San Jose still created the better chances. In the 60th minute Beau Leroux was denied one-on-one by Hoyos from the middle of the box, and Ian Harkes went just wide from outside the box after the ensuing corner. Martino responded with Alexey Miranchuk and Tristan Muyumba, and a minute later San Jose sent on Werner for Judd.

Atlanta's Pedro Amador made his season debut in the 70th minute, and his cross gave Latte Lath a look in the 72nd that flew high and wide. San Jose nearly doubled its lead in the 70th, but Atlanta's recap noted a pass in the buildup was ruled offside.

Then came the moment the crowd had waited for. In the 79th minute Werner broke in behind on the right and played a low ball across the six-yard box, and Bouda arrived to finish from point-blank range. Werner said the plan was hatched at halftime.

"It's funny because in halftime, I went especially to Bouda, because I knew he's quick as well and probably when I'm through on the wing or somewhere else, I had him as my first option to pass the ball," Werner said. "Sometimes it happens, sometimes not, but this time it worked out pretty well."

Atlanta's last push produced two blocked shots from Alzate and Amador in the 86th minute and a Miguel Almirón effort in the 89th that Daniel saved. It was Atlanta's only shot on target of the match.

Who Delivered

Timo Werner needed less than 20 minutes on the field to produce an assist. MLS reported he had been stateside for just three days, and the AP said he was acquired in late January as a Designated Player.

"I think everybody can see that the people were very excited to see me play," Werner said.

Preston Judd scored the opener on one of his two shots on target and was not shy about what the new arrival brings.

"I think it's going to be exciting with what he can do," Judd said.

Ousséni Bouda finished the job and had three shots in total before coming off in stoppage time.

Daniel needed only one save to record his second consecutive shutout, per the AP.

For Atlanta, Tomás Jacob was the standout. The club said he won all eight duels he contested in the first half, becoming the second player in Atlanta United's league history to contest and win eight or more duels in a half, and finished with nine duels won. His 20 duels won through two matches are the second most in club history, behind Franco Ibarra's 24 in 2023.

The Turning Point

The 24th minute. Atlanta had just started to find a foothold after a nervy opening, and one loose pass in its own half undid all of it. San Jose did not need many chances after that, and with Werner waiting on the bench, the hosts always had another gear available.

Stats That Matter

• Shots on target: San Jose 5, Atlanta 1.
• Possession: Atlanta 54.3 percent, San Jose 45.7 percent.
• Fouls: Atlanta 19, San Jose 9.
• Crosses: San Jose attempted 21 and completed 6; Atlanta attempted 10 and completed 1.
• Saves: Hoyos 3, Daniel 1.

What It Means

San Jose is 2-0-0 with 6 points after opening the season with a 3-0 home win over Sporting Kansas City, and it has not conceded in either match. A trip to the Philadelphia Union is next. Werner already has his eyes on the bigger picture.

"I think in the moment, the first thing we want to do is to reach the playoffs and that's my aim as well," he said.

Atlanta is 0-0-2 with 0 points after a 2-0 loss at FC Cincinnati on opening weekend, which means two games, two road trips and no goals. The fix will have to come at home: Atlanta's home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is next, against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 7.

Closing Take

Werner arrived like the new cast member who shows up in the season premiere and steals every scene he is in. Atlanta, meanwhile, looks like a show still waiting for its plot to kick in. Jacob won his battles, Hoyos made his saves and the defense held for long stretches. But two matches without a goal is a stat that gets louder every week, and San Jose's new star made sure the volume went up.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Postgame quotes as reported by MLS (mlssoccer.com); additional details from the AP recap via ESPN and Atlanta United (atlutd.com).