The San Jose Earthquakes clinch the last and final eighth spot of the MLS Western Division Conference to make the post season against LAFC on Wed Nov 4, 2020 at Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose (@SJEarthquakes photo) 

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Playoffs?? That is a question the San Jose Earthquakes can finally put to rest.

The Quakes 3-2 victory over LAFC allowed the team to clinch its first playoff bearth since 2017 on Wednesday evening at Earthquakes Stadium.

The match, originally scheduled for this past Sunday and postponed due to three LAFC players testing postitive for positive for Covid-19 last Friday, was rescheduled three days later.

San Jose has beat LAFC for the second time this season and snapped its SoCal rival’s two game winning streak. The Quakes are 6-2-1 in its last nine matches and are riding a wave of momentum with one match left in the regular season.

LAFC (9-8-4 1.48) scored the match’s opening goal in the 23rd minute. Diego Palacios started a counter attack with a cross into the middle that Diego Rossi deflected over to Latif Blessing. The 23-year old forward from Ghana tapped home the ball into an empty net for his first goal of the season.

San Jose (8-8-6 1.36) scored the equalizer just five minutes later off a set piece. Cristian Espinoza’s corner kick made a double deflection off Carlos Fierro and then Eduard Atuesta’s foot before finding its way in the back of net for an LAFC own goal.

The Quakes gained the lead in the 37th minute. Espinoza sent a cross from left to right that landed on the foot of Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski. Wondo one-timed the ball off the leg of LAFC goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer into the upper right corner of the net for his seventh goal of the season. For Wondo he increased his MLS all-time goal record to 166.

“We have belief (in ourselves),” said Wondlowski on what could be his final home game of his career. “We had it even when we were at the bottom of the table. I think that when healthy, fully ready, we’re a very dangerous team and can play against anyone and be ready against anyone. So I’m excited.”

It was Espinoza’s ninth assist of the season for San Jose, tying him for fourth overall in the MLS.

San Jose dominated the possession battle 60%-40% in the first 45 minutes.

LAFC came out desperate in the second half as head coach Bob Bradley inserted Carlos Vela, the current MLS MVP, to start the half and he had the Quakes backline on its heels.

Vela set up Rossi inside the box in the 59th minute, but Quakes goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski made a two-handed save on Rossi’s shot.

San Jose went down a man for the rest of the match in the 61st minute when Jackon Yueill received his second yellow card on a controversial call by referee Timothy Ford, resulting in a red card and ejection from the match.

The Quakes received a critical insurance goal in the 72 minute. Super substitute Shea Salinas sailed a cross from left to right over to Espinoza. The Argentine midfielder made one touch on the ball before firing it past Vermeer for his third goal of the season.

Salinas is now the Quakes all-time assist leader with 48, passing Ronald Cerritos in franchise history.

LAFC cut the lead to one goal in the 95th minute when Rossi one-timed a cross from Vela for his league leading 14th goal of the season.

Marcinkowski finished with three saves for his sixth victory of the season. Vermeer made one save on four shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with eight corner kicks. LAFC had six.

LAFC is now 0-6-1 when trailing at halftime.

San Jose are 4-0-1 in its past five home matches.

UP NEXT: The Quakes close out the regular season against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday 11/8 at 3:30pm at Century Link Field.