Amid a disappointing season, the San Jose Earthquakes still know how to make the big stage their own while earning an impressive 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC on Saturday at Santa Clara, Calif.
Amahl Pellegrino and Rodrigues each scored goals, Cristian Espinosa had two assists and the Earthquake also collected an LAFC own goal to earn the victory at the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
The game drew a crowd of 43,774, well over the club’s capacity at their home stadium in nearby San Jose.
William Yarbrough made six saves for San Jose (2-8-1, 7 points), which won for the first time since March 23. The Earthquakes have shown improved play with a 1-1 tie last week at Nashville SC, while scoring three goals in three of their past five matches.
It was the second consecutive season the Earthquakes defeated LAFC at Santa Clara, after earning a 2-1 victory at Levi’s Stadium last season.
Cristian Olivera scored a goal and Hugo Lloris made one save for LAFC (4-4-3, 15 points), who had emerged from a slow start to the season by going 2-0-2 in April and lost for the first time since March 30.
Rodrigues gave the Earthquakes a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute when he scored on a header off a corner kick from Espinosa.
In the second half, new San Jose addition Hernan Lopez made his club debut after the designated player was acquired April 25 for a team-record $6 million transfer fee.
San Jose celebrated in the 55th minute with Pellegrino’s goal on a long pass from Espinosa, with Pellegrino putting a move on Lloris to score. The own goal for a 3-0 Earthquakes lead came in the 59th minute on a corner kick from Espinosa that LAFC’s Denis Bouanga redirected into his own net.
LAFC finally broke through in the 69th minute when Olivera scored off an assist from Kei Kamara.
–Field Level Media
