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LAFC secured three points and most importantly, a moral victory, in their 3-2 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sat., Mat 28, at the Banc of California Stadium. The match opened with an unprecedented 12-minute moment of silence from the 3252 in an apparent protest against the team's recent performance against the L.A. Galaxy in the U.S. Open Cup.
Despite still being on top of the Western Conference table, the embarrassing 3-1 loss on the visitors' home turf was reason enough for the Black & Gold to come out on the front foot. LAFC managed just that, earning a penalty in the 8th minute that was tidily finished by Chicho Arango. Five minutes later, LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead finished a well-placed, left-footed shot off a short cross from Brian Rodriguez, making Hollingshead the second leading scorer on the squad.
But just three minutes later, Earthquakes attacker Jeremy Ebobisse pulled one back with the help of Jamiro Monteiro, who pounced on a sloppy pass in the midfield and found Ebobisse for a one-two in the box. Ebobisse then made it a brace in the 31st, finishing off a corner first-time to make it level at 2-2.
It would be the Uruguayan Rodriguez, however, who would break the tie and secure the win for LAFC early in the second half, courtesy of a nicely driven from midfielder Jose Cifuentes.
The win will surely be a boost for the current Western Conference leaders as they go into international break, but they'll have to refocus come Sat., June 18, as they face the Seattle Sounders in Seattle at 12 p.m. The Earthquakes, who are also coming off a humiliating Open Cup defeat to USL squad Sacramento Republic, will face Nashville away from home on Sat., June 11, at 3 p.m.
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