The San Jose Earthquakes celebrate one of their three goals against LAFC at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday MAY 4, 2024. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

There’s something about playing at Levi’s Stadium.

The San Jose Earthquakes scored three unanswered goals en route to a 3-1 dominant victory over the Los Angeles Football Club on Saturday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium.

San Jose snapped a five-match winless streak and have points in back-to-back games for the first time this season. LAFC had its four-match unbeaten streak snapped and have lost back-to-back games at Levi’s Stadium against San Jose.

The match featured the Earthquakes debut of Argentine midfielder sensation Hernán López who came in as a substitute for Jack Skahan to start the second half. López, who is the nephew of Argentine legend Diego Maradona, was acquired last week from Argentine Primera Division side Godoy Cruz for a club-record transfer fee of $6 million to become the ‘Quakes new Designated Player.

“It felt really good being able to get on the field and being able to get situated with my teammates. I felt good. … I have a lot of mutual friends with Cristian. We didn’t know each other beforehand, but I got his [phone] number when I knew that playing for San Jose was an option. I spoke to him and just like Luchi was a reason that I came, just like [general manager] Chris Leitch was a reason that I came, so was Cristian and the way that he took me under his wing to bring me into this area,” López said.

The Earthquakes (2-8-1) drew first blood early in the first half off of a set piece. Cristian Espinoza centered the ball into the middle of the box off of a corner kick. Rodrigues flew in from the right side and headed the ball into the near post past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for the fullback’s second goal of the season in the fifth minute sending the boisterous Levi’s crowd into a frenzy.

“This is a soccer-crazy region. We have three major cities and have all the supporting communities,” said Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez regarding the 43,774 announced attendance. “This is one of the top cities in the country for the game. To see them come out tonight in big number and support the team, on the 50th anniversary, Hernán’s [debut] game, it gave us a lot of momentum and it makes a difference and give us the extra energy to honor that and give it back to them.”

In the 23rd minute, San Jose looked to repeat what it did in the fifth minute, score off a corner kick. Once again Espinoza centered the ball into the middle, but Vítor Costa header was blocked by Ilie Sánchez and cleared out of danger for LAFC.

Two minutes later Maxime Chanot was issued a yellow card for a bad foul he committed against Jeremy Ebobisse resulting in a free kick. Ebobisse’s left footed attempt from just outside the box sailed wide left.

LAFC’s (4-4-3) best chances to get on the scoreboard came late in the opening 45 minutes. First int he 37th minute, Eduard Atuesta’s right footed shot from just outside the box in the middle was saved by ‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Then Yarbrough snatched up a shot from Mateusz Bogusz in the 44th minute.

San Jose doubled its lead in the 55th minute. A turnover by LAFC led to a quick counterattack. Espinoza curled in a long ball from just beyond midfield out to Amahl Pellegrino who received the ball just outside the D for a breakaway chance. Pellegrino made a move around Lloris before he buried a left footed shot into an empty net for his second goal in a ‘Quakes kit.

“I know Cristian (Espinoza) has one of the best right (feet) in the league. I like to go behind the defender to attack that space and when I saw he got the ball, I just hoped he would swing it to me, and he did it. It was a fantastic ball and made my job easy. To get the right touch and go past the goalkeeper. It went in and it was a good feeling. I hope we can keep doing what we’ve doing the last two games and build on this,” Pellegrino said.

The Earthquakes scored its third unanswered goal off of its second set piece in the 59th minute. Espinoza’s corner kick sailed into the middle and was deflected off the foot by Denis Bouanga and into the back of the net that was too hot to handle for Lloris for an own goal.

“I know he’s (Espinoza) a leading assister not only on the team, but in the league, and has been consistent over the seasons. He’s lethal and relentless, he trains like that and it is great to reward him and his teammates. I’m really happy to have two set pieces scored tonight and not concede and give up zero defensively,” Gonzalez said.

LAFC spoiled Yarbrough’s shutout bit in the 69th minute after a turnover inside the ‘Quakes zone. Christian Olivera intercepted a passing attempt by Costa. After a give and go with Kei Kamara, Olivera delivered a right footed shot into the back corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Yarbrough finished the match with six saves, including three quality chances from LAFC in the final 10 minutes, on seven shots for his second victory of the season. Lloris made just one save on three shots on target in the losing effort.

“It was a great night for him (Yarbrough). I thought he was dominant in crosses and shot blocking. We’ve had our challenges in goal … It is why we brought in William for this type of experience,” Gonzalez noted.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished four corner kicks. LAFC had seven.

Espinoza’s second assist of the match on Pellegrino’s goal, tied a club record with Richard Mulrooney with his 14th game winning assist for the most in club history.

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner was flanked by Mexican National Team legend Oswaldo Sánchez and boxing world title contender Ruben Villa as he fired the siren before the match.

The Quakes are 7-8-1 against LAFC in MLS play overall with a 6-2-0 record at home, including six straight victories across PayPal Park and Levi’s Stadium.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Oakland Roots of the USL Championship in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday 5/7 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Park.