Earthquakes Clinch 2020 MLS Playoff Berth

Wondo and Espinoza score to beat LAFC

San Jose Earthquakes’ Chris Wondolowski (8) right, Espinoza (10) left, celebrate his goal against Los Angeles FC in the first half at Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

2020.11.04 – The San Jose Earthquakes clinch a 2020 MLS playoff berth not reached since 2017, and only for the second time in the last eight years.

Cristian Espinoza scored a goal and assisted on another by Chris Wondolowski, and San Jose Quakes beat Los Angeles FC 3-2 on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff berth.

Head coach Matias Almeyda said he and the Quakes took an understated approach to climbing out of an early-season hole. San Jose is now 6-2-1 in its last nine matches.

“We really stayed calm, careful, and we kept faith in our difficult moments,” Almeyda said postgame. “But we doubled down on our bet and corrected things. When the players began to regain their confidence, I knew there was a possibility to come back.”

The Earthquakes 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. The volley scored by Wondo increased his MLS all-time goal record to 166.

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

The Quakes (8-8-6) played with a man down for over 30 minutes after Jackson Yueill was shown a second yellow card in the 61st minute. But by now, It was just another bump in the road for San Jose.

In the 72nd minute, Espinoza took a cross from Shea Salinas and whipped in a side-netter to give San Jose a 3-1 lead. Salinas moved past Ronaldo Cerritos to become the Earthquakes’ career leader with 49 assists.

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.

“We joke, and I say this facetiously, that our team is made for 2020,” Wondo said. “2020 is crazy. We’re mayhem. That’s what our team is made for. It’s why we love it.”

2020.11.04 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Los Angeles FC) MLS Highlights!

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2020.11.04 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. Los Angeles FC) MLS Highlights!

LAFC (9-8-4) 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) scored the equalizer just five minutes later off a set piece. 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 the net for an LAFC own goal.

“We have belief (in ourselves),” said Wondolowski 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.”

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 San Jose 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 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 made a critical insurance goal in the 72 minute. Super substitute 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 San Jose Earthquakes’ all-time assist leader with 48, passing Ronald Cerritos for the overall assist franchise history.

Los Angeles FC 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.

The Quakes held on for the victory as goalkeeper Marcinkowski finished with three saves for his sixth win of the season. LAFC’s Vermeer made one save on four shots in the losing effort.

In securing the playoff spot, the Quakes snapped a LAFC’s three-game unbeaten streak.

The match was originally slated for Sunday, but was postponed after three LAFC players tested positive for COVID-19. It wasn’t until Tuesday that MLS announced the teams would play Wednesday night.

The Earthquakes could still climb in playoff seeding with a win Sunday against the Seattle Sounders, but they won’t finish any higher than sixth in the Western Conference.