Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Earthquakes stopped by the City of Angels to take on LAFC in a rivalry match at the Banc of California Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Quakes’ starting lineup featured Daniel Vega, Marcos Lopez, Guram Kashia, Harold Cummings, Nick Lima, Magnus Eriksson, Judson, Anibal Godoy, Cristian Espinoza, Vako and Chris Wondolowski.

The Quakes were off to a great start. Eriksson’s free kick that rattled the near post at the ninth minute of the first half. Eriksson then found the back of the net five minutes later to give the Quakes a 1-0 lead at the 15th minute. Wondolowski doubled the Quakes’ lead at the 30th minute.

The Quakes carried a 2-0 lead to the locker room at the end of the first half. Eriksson and Wondolowski each scored one goal apiece for the Quakes, who were pretty darn confident in the fact that they’d ultimately win the match for the much-needed confidence boost along with the bragging rights that arise when a team beats a bitter rival.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda made no changes to the team’s lineup to start the second half. Unlike in Northern California, both teams played under the warm California sun as opposed to the stormy Seattle weather.

The Quakes made their first substitution of the match as Tommy Thompson entered the game as a replacement to Lima. The Quakes’ second substitution was Luis Felipe in for Eriksson. The Quakes’ third substitution saw Shea Salinas, who replaced Espinoza. The Quakes’ fourth substitution witnessed Jackson Yueill, who stepped on the field after Judson walked off of it.

Fast forward to the 76th minute when Godoy nearly kicked in a third goal, but was denied at the post by a LAFC defender. The score remained in a 2-0 lead in favor of the Quakes. After that, San Jose made its fifth substitution as Florian Jungwirth replaced Godoy.

Turns out, Vako indeed tripled the Quakes’ lead with the match’s third goal of the game at the 76th minute. The final score turned out to be a 3-0 Quakes win on the road. That being said, it was never too late for San Jose to beat LA. Media members on both sides of the field flocked to speak with Coach Almeyda along with the Quakes players in the hopes of getting some interesting quotes for their respective articles and/or broadcasts.

The Quakes wrap up the 2019 MLS preseason with a match versus the Seattle Sounders FC at Avaya Stadium on Saturday, February 23rd at 12:45 pm PT.