As the San Jose Earthquakes try to shake their season to life, it might actually be perfect timing to play in front of a massive collection of home supporters.
The Earthquakes will play host to Los Angeles FC on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. The 68,500-seat venue is a short 5-mile trek north of San Jose and is super-sized compared to the club’s typical 18,000-seat capacity.
The teams also met in Santa Clara last year with San Jose earning a 2-1 victory over LAFC in front of a crowd of 45,112.
“I don’t have to say too much, because these guys are excited to play in this stadium,” San Jose coach Luchi Gonzalez said. “It doesn’t get better than this.”
The Earthquakes (1-8-1, 4 points) are in last place in the Western Conference, but there is hope. San Jose is coming off a 1-1 road tie against Nashville SC last Saturday to earn a point in the standings for the first time since March 23.
The Earthquakes also scored three goals in two of three matches before the tie, with the issue being an MLS-high 25 goals allowed in 10 matches.
San Jose’s newest addition, Argentine midfielder Hernan Lopez, still isn’t expected to play after he was acquired on a team-record $6 million transfer fee on April 25.
LAFC (4-3-3, 15 points) are much improved following a slow start while on a season-best four-match unbeaten streak (2-0-2). The run started with a 2-1 victory over the rival Los Angeles Galaxy on April 6.
In a 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday, Denis Bouanga fired a rocket for the go-ahead score in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. In a 2-2 tie against the New York Red Bulls on April 20, Bouanga tied the match in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Bouanga entered the weekend with six goals, tied for sixth most in MLS.
“I hate to lose, I just want to win,” Bouanga said through an interpreter. “I’m addicted to victory. I know if I can score (late in games), I’ll do everything. I love to hear the fans chanting my name. … I’m addicted to victory and I love it too much to stay at a tie.”
LAFC is 9-6-1 all-time against San Jose.
–Field Level Media