Keller leads Sounders past Earthquakes

Kasey Keller returned from a one-game red-card suspension to post his fourth straight shutout and set an MLS record as the Seattle Sounders FC beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 on Saturday night.

Keller hasn’t allowed a goal in 389 minutes to start the season, surpassing the old record of 375 set in 2007 by New York’s Ronald Waterreus.

Steve Zakuani and Brad Evans scored for Seattle.

The Sounders (4-2-0) halted a two-game losing streak while San Jose (1-3-2) is winless in its last four games. Keller was given a red card and ejected in Seattle’s 1-0 loss to Kansas City on April 11 with the game scoreless. He then served his one-game suspension in Seattle’s 2-0 defeat to Chivas USA on April 18.

The Earthquakes have gone 11 straight games without a road victory (0-6-5) since a 2-0 win at Columbus last June 7.

Zakuani, the top overall pick in this year’s MLS draft, scored on a header in the 42nd minute that ended a ended a 266-minute drought on Zakuani’s second goal of the season. On a free kick just outside the box on the right-wing side, the ball initially was knocked out of danger, but was held in by the Sounders.

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, playing at the top of the box, got it through to Tyrone Marshall, who headed a target ball toward the right post. Zakuani met it there, headed it down, and it bounced into the back left corner.

Seattle made it 2-0 late in the 49th minute. Playing just over midfield on the left sideline, Zakuani sent a through ball to Nate Jaqua. He crossed to Evans, who was coming all alone down the middle, and Evans fired it past goalkeeper Joe Cannon from 14 yards straight in front.

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