(Sports Network) - Darren Huckerby had a goal and an assist as San Jose beat D.C. United, 2-1, on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium to extend its unbeaten streak to eight matches. San Jose won for the fourth time in its last five games and moved into fourth place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

The Earthquakes (7-9-7), who had just three wins in their first 18 games this season, climbed from the bottom of the conference past Los Angeles, FC Dallas and Colorado.

"This was an important game we needed to win and I'm happy we did," said San Jose's Arturo Alvarez, who scored the first goal of the match.

D.C. United (10-11-2), which won the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, remained tied with Red Bull New York for fourth in the Eastern Conference. Santino Quaranta scored United's lone goal late in the second half.

Alvarez put San Jose in front in the 18th minute, finishing off a great play by Huckerby for his sixth goal of the year. Huckerby stole the ball outside the penalty area and found Alvarez for an easy finish.

Huckerby, who has been a major part of San Jose's surge, doubled the lead in the 62nd minute with assists from Eric Denton and Scott Sealy. Sealy found the former English Premier League player at the top of the area and Huckerby fired inside the near post for his fourth goal.

D.C., which was without leading scorers Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno, cut the deficit in half in the 76th minute on Quaranta's fourth goal of the year.

Rod Dyachenko stole the ball deep in San Jose's end and found Quaranta outside the area to his right. Quaranta made a move to his left to lose a defender and fired inside the far post.

San Jose nearly put the match away two minutes later when Jovan Kirovski, Ned Grabavoy and Sealy worked a quick passing combination, but Sealy's finish was erased because he was offside.

D.C. failed to test San Jose goalie Joe Cannon over the remainder of the match and the Earthquakes held on for their seventh win of the season.

San Jose will try to extend its streak against two-time defending MLS champion and conference-leader Houston on Sept. 13. D.C. will try to bounce back Sept. 13 when it hosts FC Dallas.



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