LAFC at San Jose Earthquakes
MLS 2021 Season - Match 17
Sunday, August 8, 2021
4:00 p.m. PT
TV: My13 KCOP, Estrella TV
RADIO: 1110 AM ESPN, ESPN App (Audio), KFWB 980 AM
Simply put, LAFC is looking to bounce back in San Jose after a historic loss on Aug. 4. The team’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting KC at the Banc was the worst home loss in LAFC history, and just the third worst loss for the Club since 2018.
“It's a bad loss. Kansas City played well,” said LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley after the match. “We know they are a good team, so as they come in here, our understanding that we need to be at our best, they need to be sharp, that they need to try to press us in the same ways that we press teams and for whatever reason -- it took us too long to really understand the tempo of the game.”
Next up for LAFC, a San Jose side that has struggled in 2021 but has gone unbeaten in their last six matches. The Club has traditionally fared well against their opponent from the North, logging an all-time regular season series record of 5-2-0, though San Jose got the better of them in their last meeting, a 3-2 victory at Earthquakes Stadium.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES IN-DEPTH
The Quakes are well known for Head Coach Matías Almeyda’s ‘man marking,’ frenetic style of play, but this season the league has seen them deviate slightly from this, instead opting for a low block, defensive formation. Given that in the past their man marking style has proven less than effective against LAFC, look for San Jose to employ this shift. Addressing their lack of consistency in the attack, the Earthquakes week brought in dangerous striker Jeremy Ebobisse in a trade with Portland this week, and he is likely to see the field in this matchup.
THE NEWCOMERS
Yes, San Jose just brought in Ebobisse, but LAFC also can now employ new striker Cristian Arango, who has received his work visa and is cleared to play this week. Arango will look to fill a gap in the Club’s finishing that has plagued the team all season – as LAFC has failed to score more than two goals in a match since October of 2020. Over the last few matches, the Black & Gold’ has not been able to come close to its expected goals total, and “Chicho” brings a wealth of finishing experience that hopefully helps at just the right time.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
The Black & Gold can finally…..FINALLY be clinical with its finishing and score on the numerous chances they have been creating this season.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES CAN WIN IF
LAFC does not properly defend crosses. Defending crosses has been a point of weakness for the Club this season – an area SKC was able to take advantage of in the last game. It is a strength for San Jose behind the foot of Cristian Espinoza – so the Black & Gold will need to be on high alert.
Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie (1964).
