Sports

The cast of characters has changed dramatically, but the San Jose Earthquakes have brought back a winning recipe from 2010: stifling defense with a liberal dose of game-winning goals from Chris Wondolowski.

With three victories in their first four matches – all three secured by goals from Wondolowski – San Jose are enjoying their best opening run since 2003. It’s only their second hot start since being reborn as an expansion team five years ago; the Quakes of 2010 went 5-2-1 en route to the club’s only MLS Cup Playoffs berth in their current incarnation.

San Jose’s in-form striker Chris Wondolowski converted a first-half penalty to give the Earthquakes a 1-0 win at Seattle on Saturday, moving the Californians equal top of the MLS Western Conference. Wondolowski’s goal was already his fourth this season and his third game-winner of the year for the Earthquakes, playing their fourth game.

The Sounders fell short of matching its 2009 record of winning their opening three games.

No one knows, of course, how many points it will take to qualify for the Western Conference playoffs. But using the points percentage of the current eighth-place team, the Phoenix Coyotes, as a guideline, 94 is a reasonable estimate. More >

Antti Niemi made 26 saves for his fifth shutout of the season and the San Jose Sharks continued their mastery of the Philadelphia Flyers with a 1-0 victory.

Ryane Clowe scored the only goal 82 seconds into the game as the Sharks notched their ninth win in a row over Philadelphia. San Jose is 11-0-0 with a pair of ties in the past 13 meetings since the Flyers’ last triumph on December 21, 2000.

A capacity crowd at San Jose City Hall’s council chamber Wednesday night erupted into loud cheers and applause after the city’s Planning Commission gave a unanimous and final green light to a long-awaited $60 million permanent home for the San Jose Earthquakes.

After three hours of public testimony, the commission voted 6 to 0 to uphold a soccer stadium permit that was appealed last month by neighbors in the area. Only commissioner Hope Cahan was absent.

The SAP Open lost its top seed Gael Monfils to injury on Wednesday and almost its No. 2 as well before Andy Roddick struggled past American compatriot Dennis Kudla 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the second round.

Monfils, who was due to play his first match of the tournament on Thursday, announced on the eve that he was pulling out due to right knee inflammation, and would also miss his next scheduled tournament.

At 35, San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch figures he’s reaching his peak. That’s why he signed a two-year contract extension this week with a club option for ’14. More >

The Earthquakes have signed Honduran international defender Victor Bernardez pending work visa, transfer papers and passing a team-administered physical, the club announced Wednesday.

Bernardez, 29, joins San Jose after three years with Belgian Pro League giant Anderlecht. More >