By admin 
The San Jose Earthquakes have a massive opportunity for gains on several fronts in their match Saturday against Los Angeles FC.
Read more Gable Steveson compares himself to 90s Mike Tyson
First, they can sweep their California rivals in the season series for the first time since 2021. A win would also be their third straight, potentially signifying renewed stability after a significant midseason wobble. And finally, it’d be a big win in the MLS standings: With a victory and some help, they could climb back to second place in the West, as well as creating distance from LAFC, which is a single point behind the Quakes in the crowded middle of the conference.
“The closer that we get to playoffs, we know how important each game becomes, and how tight the standings are in the West,” midfielder Niko Tsakiris told reporters Tuesday. “So we know that we have to make the most of each opportunity that we have.”
In order to secure this key win, they’ll want to get off to a better start than they did last year in this matchup at Levi’s Stadium.
Son Heung-Min, LAFC’s star midseason addition from England’s Tottenham Hotspur, scored in the first minute on a quick-build tap-in past Quakes keeper Daniel, igniting a plurality of the 50,000-plus attendees that was there to see the Korean star play in NorCal for the first time.
Eleven minutes later, it was 3-0 for the visitors as Denis Bouanga scored twice. He later added another in the 87th minute as LAFC won 4-2.
Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena expects to see a similarly threatening attack from LAFC this year.
“They have some very talented players,” Arena told reporters Tuesday. “They’re dangerous. They’ll attack with pace and obviously try to get behind our back line.”
Read more The Shoulders On Which Titles Are Built: Tarik Skubal Is Calibrated for October
San Jose appears to have regained its form over the last week after going more than three months without a win – albeit with the World Cup break contained in that period. The Quakes were 0-5-3 from the end of May through their first game of September until they beat San Diego on the road Sept. 9. Three days later, they got another win over Houston at home.
The slide saw the Earthquakes go from tied atop the West to sixth, and within range of falling into a wild-card spot or out of the playoffs altogether. Now they’re back in fourth after gaining six quick points. LAFC is in sixth after winning just once in eight MLS games since the World Cup break and drawing four times.
Arena noted that the Quakes have conceded just three goals in the last four games, which have resulted in two draws and two wins. They gave up 12 goals in the previous four games, including a 5-1 drubbing at home to Minnesota on Aug. 22.
San Jose won the first game in this rivalry this season, beating LAFC 4-1 in April at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Ousseni Bouda scored a pair of goals in that win.
“The rivalries the California teams have are the best in the history of this league,” said Arena, who has been in American soccer since before MLS was founded and coached the LA Galaxy to three MLS Cups. “There’s great passion among the fans and the players.”
One major factor in San Jose’s return to form is Tsakiris, the 21-year-old homegrown midfielder who played his first full 90 minutes in more than four months in that win at San Diego. Tsakaris had a goal and two assists in that game as he announced his full return from a groin injury that required surgery in May. His 10 assists still have him tied for 10th place in the league.
“I think it’s been a remarkable recovery for him from surgery,” Arena said of Tsakiris. “We’ve tried to be smart with his minutes; we may have overdone it last week. He’s done exceptionally well and worked really hard to be where he is today.”
Read more Cristiano Ronaldo Doesn’t Get Wish As Punishments Issued for Diogo Jota Chants
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.