The historic Bay vs LA rivalry will write its latest chapter on Tuesday night when the San Jose Earthquakes make the short trip from NorCal down to SoCal for their Leagues Cup Round of 16 California clash against LAFC.
If you enjoy attacking football, this game is for you.
San Jose brings a frightening front four south led by 2023 MLS All-Star playmaker Cristian Espinoza accompanied by Amahl Pellegrino, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Diego Maradona’s great-nephew Hernán López in a team that simply wants to score goals. Not to be outdone, reigning MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga has been tearing up the league once again this season alongside 22-year-old Swiss army attacker Mateusz Bogusz.
Bringing the excitement to a head, all-time leading French goalscorer Olivier Giroud will be available to play for LAFC after his summer move from AC Milan. The legendary striker’s debut had to be put on hold while Giroud was on international duty with his country at the European Championships followed by the necessary rest but finally, the time has come for the Black and Gold’s newest signing to be included in the matchday squad.
Of course, LAFC had no trouble reaching this point in the tournament without Giroud in a similar style to the Earthquakes. Both teams advanced as the second-place finisher in their group ahead of a comfortable Round of 32 triumph — 2-0 over Austin for LAFC and 5-0 over Necaxa for San Jose. Unfortunately, only one California team can remain in the tournament when they leave BMO Stadium.
Although we have penalties to decide that winner if necessary, based on prior events it is unlikely this match will resort to spot kicks between two teams who have only drawn once in eighteen previous meetings. History also favors LAFC (10-7-1 all-time) against a San Jose team that has only won once at BMO Stadium in ten visits. However, since the Quakes parted ways with head coach Luchi Gonzalez following the last meeting between these two sides (a 6-2 LAFC win), the past is irrelevant to those involved.
“I don’t think our last match against them is a reference for this match. I think it’s a team with a new spirit. Since then there has been a coaching change so a new spirit about them, certainly a team who is a little more committed and connected to what they’re doing,” analyzed LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. “It’s also a different competition than the league. Sometimes in the league when you look at the table before a game you get a little discouraged, don’t have as much confidence, but here in this particular competition, they’ve been excellent. In particular, that last result was a big one so we are meeting a team tomorrow full of confidence who see this competition as a way to maybe salvage their season.”
Knowing your opponent is clearly a skill Cherundolo possesses as Pellegrino echoed the same sentiment from within the Earthquakes squad. Sitting in last place in the Western Conference, all San Jose needed was something to play for and Leagues Cup has given it to them.
“We haven’t been so good in the league this year,” Pellegrino compared. “Now with Leagues Cup, you start fresh and I feel that we have come with renewed energy. It has been fun to play games when feel that you don’t need to look at the table and be depressive of the sight. It’s been a new beginning for us and I hope we can come with this new energy and attack the game like we have been doing the last three games.”
According to Pellegrino, Leagues Cup has allowed San Jose’s progress under interim head coach Ian Russell to shine through. With increased energy and inclusion have come improved results which they hope is just the start.
“We were in a really bad run,” Pellegrino shared. “Sometimes as a club, you need to make changes and Ian [Russell] came with a new energy. Some people started from fresh beginnings and felt a little more included in the team. The energy is more there now from everyone. How Ian wants us to play [is] just shoulders down, relaxed, believe in yourself, and he likes to play attacking football. The last few weeks I really feel that we have been in a different place than the beginning [of the season]. Things take time and maybe it’s starting to show a little bit now what we can achieve the rest of the season.”
Their biggest opportunity yet comes in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 against the defending MLS Western Conference champions on the day LAFC is expected to debut one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation. Slowing down their opponent’s attack will be a challenge for both sides but that only means guaranteed excitement for fans in a matchup that historically produces over four goals per game between two teams battling to keep their tournament alive.
