Tag: LAFC

San Jose Earthquakes defender Rodrigues (26) and LAFC forward Kei Kamara (23) fight for the ball during the second half at BMO Stadium on Sat Oct 19, 2024. Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

By William Espy

The San Jose Earthquakes closed out a 2024 season they’ll certainly like to forget on the road against LAFC at BMO Stadium. With no implications really on the line for either team, it was difficult to know what to expect. LAFC is postseason-bound, and they’re essentially locked into the second seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Earthquakes are guaranteed to finish last in the MLS. LAFC took it to the Quakes with a two goal 3-1 win in the last match of the regular season.

Earthquakes Starting XI: Daniel, Costa, Rodrigues, Wilson, Akapo, Gruezo, Yueill, Marie, Lopez, Espinoza, Ebobisse
LAFC Starting XI: Lloris, Segura, Chanot, Long, Palencia, O’Brien, Tillman, Campos, Bogusz, Giroud, Bouanga

Surprisingly, the Earthquakes got out to an early 1-0 lead off of a goal from Jackson Yueill in the ninth minute. Over the course of the first half, the Quakes were outplayed in terms of possession and total shots but LAFC wasn’t able to challenge the San Jose goalkeeper, Daniel. LAFC were getting shots off, but they weren’t able to get any on target in the first half which would undoubtedly change in the second 45 minutes. 

After a bit of hibernation in the first half, LAFC woke up hungry for the second half. They dominated the second half and Denis Bouanga scored an equalizer in the 68th minute from inside of the box. The Earthquakes were struggling, and those struggles only got worse after both sides made a few substitutions as they attempted to get the all-important second goal that would almost certainly decide the outcome of the game. 

In the 75th minute, LAFC took the lead off of a goal from midfielder Eduard Atuesta. The goal, which was assisted by Kei Kamara, gave the home side a 2-1 lead and put the Earthquakes in a situation which they were certainly familiar with this season, trailing late in a game. From there, LAFC continued attacking. They seemed determined not to let the visitors back into the match and there was clearly a massive difference in the talent levels of the two sides. 

The Quakes showed some signs of life late in the game but were unable to find an equalizer. Eventually, LAFC scored a third off of the head of Marlon Santos in extra time, putting the game out of reach for the Earthquakes. They fell to their California rivals 3-1 to end their 2024 MLS season. 

The San Jose Earthquakes’ final game of the season essentially summarized their entire season. They played well in the first half, but were unable to play with a lead and ultimately lost to a much better team. It’s a season that the organization and fans alike will certainly want to forget as quickly as possible. 

San Jose forward Carlos Espinoza battles for possession along the sideline with LAFC’s Diego Palacios at Pay Pal Park on Saturday Aug 20, 2022. (Dario Cruz-Tectonic Takes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The MLS version battle of David versus Goliath went David’s way in a shocker.

Cade Cowell scored the game winning goal in the 77th minute as the San Jose Earthquakes pulled off a dramatic upset over LAFC, the best team in the league, 2-1 on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

In front of a sold out crowd, in what had a playoff atmosphere like feeling, the ‘Quakes won for just the second time in its last eight matches. On the flip side, LAFC had its seven match winning streak snapped.

“Emotions are high right now. We need to be calm, but I believe tonight is one of the best games I have seen from this team this season. When you lose, you ‘stink’ and when you win, everybody wants to talk good things about you. The guys showed that we have personality and played good with and without the ball. And we did it,” interim head coach Alex Covelo said.

Cowell was set up by the Man of Match, Tommy Thompson, who had two assists on the night. Thompson ran down a ball near the end line when he centered the ball back into the middle where an unmarked Cowell blasted a one-timer top shelf past LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau for his second goal of the season.

“For me personally, it felt great to put in a good shift with the team, but I give a lot of credit to all the guys out there that fought until the end right in the middle of the difficult moment that we’re in. I think it’s exciting and it’s a night that I won’t forget anytime soon,” Thompson said.

San Jose (6-11-9-27 points) drew first blood in the 14th minute. Benji Kikanovic began a counter attack for the ‘Quakes. Christian Espinoza found Thompson along the end line and he chipped the ball over a LAFC defender to Kikanovic who buried a one-timer into the upper left corner for his fifth goal of the season.

LAFC (18-5-3-57 points) had trouble containing San Jose’s attack in the first half as they were playing back on the heels for the first 45 minutes.

The start of the second half saw LAFC change the momentum with chances early on. They cashed in the 54th minute on a brilliant play from Kellyn Acosta. The current USNMT’s midfielder glided a pass over to Kwadwo Opoku, who got behind Nathan on the play, and he chipped the ball over ‘Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski for his seventh goal of the season.

Covelo made substitutions in the 69th minute as he brought Cowell and Eric Remedi that helped switch the momentum back to San Jose.

Despite bringing in a powerhouse trio off the bench in the second half that consisted of 2019 MLS MVP Carlos Vela, Illie Sanchez and Jose Cifuentes, LAFC was not only able to score the equalizer but lost their composure in the process as their frustrations of being outplayed grew bigger down the stretch with ugly fouls that went for yellow cards.

Sanchez received two yellow cards in just 15 minutes of action when he was sent off for his second infraction and automatic red card in the 79th minute. Sanchez will be suspended for LAFC’s next match against the Austin FC on 8/26.

Marcinkowski finished the match with one save on two shots on goal. Crépeau made three saves on five shots in the losing effort.

Welsh international midfielder Gareth Bale made an appearance as a substitute in the 76th minute when he replaced Opoku. He has played in eight games with LAFC since being transferred from Real Madrid back in June.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with 11 corner kicks. LAFC had five.

San Jose is now 5-7-0 all-time vs. Los Angeles Football Club, including a 4-2-0 record at home. San Jose is now 5-2-0 in their last seven meetings with LAFC, including three straight home wins.

The Earthquakes are now 6-7-6 in MLS play under Covelo.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to the Midwest to take on Sporting KC on Saturday 8/27 at 5:30pm at Children’s Mercy Park.

LAFC forward Cristian Arango brings the ball up the pitch during the second half of a 3-2 victory over San Jose on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Orange County Register)

by Marko Ukalovic

LOS ANGELES — The best in the West resides in Southern California.

Brian Rodríguez scored the eventual game winning goal in the 47th minute to give LAFC a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium.

San Jose had its four-match unbeaten streak snapped with their first loss since a 3-0 loss to NYFC back on May 1st. LAFC stayed atop of the Western Conference with its second consecutive win.

Jose Cifuentes set up Rodríguez with a cross pitch pass that left Rodríguez all alone against Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski. The Uruguayan midfielder’s left footed shot beat Marcinkowksi for his second goal of the season.

LAFC (9-3-2-29 points) drew first blood when they were able to draw a penalty inside the box in the sixth minute. Ryan Hollingshead was tripped up by Jan Gregus. Cristian Arango converted the penalty in the eighth minute for his third goal of the season.

The home team doubled its lead just over five minutes later. Rodríguez found Hollingshead along the left side of the box. Hollingshead beat Marcinkowski with a low shot to the left corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season in the 13th minute.

San Jose (3-6-5) responded three minutes later to cut LAFC’s lead in half. Jamiro Monterio set up Jeremy Ebobisse as the pair had a nice give and go inside the box. Ebobisse finished off the play with a left footed shot that beat LAFC’s goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau for the first of his two goals of the match.

The Earthquakes scored the equalizer off a set piece in the 31st minute. Cristian Espinoza sailed a cross into the middle where an unmarked Ebobisse one-timed the ball into the back of the net with a left footed shot for his second goal of the match.

It was Ebobisse’s fourth brace this season as he leads the Quakes in goals with nine. Ebobisse had a chance to score four goals in the first half, but a header attempt sailed high over the net, and on another occasion, he overran a pass from Espinoza where he was all alone on net. By the time he recovered, Crépeau was able to secure the ball.

Quakes head coach Alex Covelo waited till the 73rd minute to make his first substitutions with Benji Kikanovic and Marcos Lopez replaced Cade Cowell and Tommy Thompson.

LAFC settled down defensively in the final 20 minutes to keep San Jose from earning a point in the match.

Crépeau finished the match with one save on four shots on target to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made six saves on nine shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished the match with six corner kicks.

LAFC have yet to concede more than two goals in any match this season while posting four shutouts. They are 2-2-1 after starting the season 7-1-1.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns continues its three-match road trip on Saturday 6/11 in Nashville as they take on Nashville SC at 3:00pm at GEODIS Park.

The San Jose Earthquakes’ Carlos Fierro (7) and Chris Wondolowski (8) share congratulations during their game against the Seattle Sounders FC on Wed May 12, 2021 at Pay Pal Park in San Jose. The Quakes lost to LAFC on Sat Oct 16, 2021 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles (Bay Area News Group file photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

LOS ANGELES—Cristian Arango has been carrying LAFC on his shoulders since Carlos Vela went down to injury as they fight for their playoff lives.

Arango had a brace and an assist in his team’s 3-1 over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium.

LAFC are unbeaten in its last two matches (1-0-1) and sit in eight place in the Western Conference with 37 points, one point behind Minnesota FC, who have 38 points and currently the final playoff berth. San Jose have lost three games in a row and and their fading playoff hopes suffered another blow with five games remaining in the season. They are in 10 tenth place with 33 points.

Vela has missed the Black & Gold’s last eight games with a hamstring injury. He missed three games at the beginning of the season with a different injury as well.

LAFC (10-12-7) drew first blood early in the match. In the third minute, a turnover by San Jose led to Arango sending a back pass into the middle of the box where Danny Musovski crashed in and buried a shot through two Quakes defenders and Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski for his fourth goal of the season.

San Jose (8-12-9) had a chance in the 24th minute to even the score. Jeremy Ebobisse, who made his first appearance since suffering a head injury on September 4th, received the ball inside the box but his chip attempt into an empty net was swept away by Kim Moon-Hwan before the ball was able to cross the goal line.

Arango set up his first goal when he was able to get Jackson Yueill to concede a penalty inside the box in the 26th minute. Yueill made contact with Arango but the Colombian striker sold the penalty when he immediately went down in a heap on the pitch. Referee Alan Kelly ruled Yueill did enough to earn the penalty.

Two minutes later, Arango, better known as “Chicho” came up slowly, hesitated and then shot the ball to the left side, as Marcinkowki guessed to the right, to convert the penalty kick for his team leading seventh goal of the season.

San Jose had two scoring chances during stoppage time at the end of the first half but Ebobisse’s shot went high over the net and Benji Kinkanovic had his shot attempt blocked by an LAFC defender.

“I believe in the first half we were pretty inaccurate when we had the ball,” said Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda. “They put their chances away and we did not.”

Almeyda made all of his substitutions early in the second half as he looked to maintain the momentum his team seized late in the first half. He inserted Cade Cowell, Chris Wondolowski and Andy Rio in the 55th minute to keep the offensive pressure inside LAFC’s defensive zone.

In the 61st minute the moves paid off as San Jose cut the lead in half off a set piece. Chofis serviced a corner kick near the right post where Rios headed the ball past LAFC goalie Jamal Blackman over to Carlo Fierro, who came in as a sub to start the second half, and he knocked the ball off his chest into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

San Jose had three quality scoring chances in the final 15 minutes to even the match, but Blackman came away with highway robber each time. Cowell first chance in the 75th minute was a blazing shot from just outside the box that Blackman needed both hands to knock the ball away. Jack Skahan’s attempt in the 83rd minute was stoned away by Blackman.

Cowell’s second chance in the 83rd minute from outside the box was thwarted by a diving save thanks to the quick reflexes of Blackman that ended with frustration for San Jose.

“The first 20-30 minutes was tough I think,” said midfielder Shea Salinas. “But our team settled in and ended up playing well the second half. It just wasn’t enough.”

LAFC put the game away in the 88th minute when Brian Rodriguez won a challenge along the midfield sideline along with Yueill. Rodriguez created a two-on-one odd man rush and serviced a ball from left to right over to Arango who one-timed the ball into the far left corner for his second goal of the match and eighth of the season.

Blackman finished the match with five saves to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made two saves on four shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Each team finished the match with three corner kicks.

Los Angeles FC won their first five meetings with the Earthquakes in MLS, outscoring them, 20-4. San Jose had won all four meetings since, the first team to beat LAFC four straight times in MLS play, regular season or playoffs.

After not allowing more than one goal in 11 straight matches (9 total goals conceded) from mid-July to mid-September, San Jose has conceded at least three goals in five of its last six games (16 total goals conceded). The only team the Earthquakes held under three goals in that time was LAFC (2-0 win on September 25).

Los Angeles FC has held opponents to just 9.9 shots per match, second fewest in MLS (NYCFC – 9.3), though opponents have scored with a league-high 14.9 percent of those shots. San Jose had a total of 15 shots in the match.

Eric Remedi has received 12 yellow cards this season, tied with Leandro González Pirez for most in MLS. Remedi has also been fouled 97 times, 14 more than any other player in the league in 2021.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts Austin FC on Wednesday 10/20 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Park.