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MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Weekly Update: September 20, 2021

September 20, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


The San Jose Earthquakes earned a 4-3 road victory over Austin FC on Saturday evening at Q2 Stadium, after falling 4-3 to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night at PayPal Park. Saturday's victory sees the Quakes earn their first-ever win over Austin and extend their unbeaten streak on the road to eight, a new club record.

The Earthquakes are now preparing to host LAFC on Saturday, Sept. 25, presented by Valley Health Plan. Saturday marks the Quakes' annual Portuguese Heritage Night and will kick off from PayPal Park at 7:00 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast on Telemundo 48, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.

Midfielder Eduardo 'Chofis' Lopez has been named Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 26. Chofis was also selected to Major League Soccer's Team of the Week. He has now scored five goals in the past two games, including a hat-trick last Wednesday.

OPPONENT INFORMATION

Earthquakes vs. LAFC All-Time

MLS Regular Season: 3-5-0

Home: 2-2-0 (8 GF, 12 GA)

Away: 1-3-0 (3 GF, 12 GA)

All-Time Scoring: San Jose - 11, LAFC - 24

Last Game vs. LAFC

San Jose Earthquakes 2 - 1 LAFC; Aug. 8, 2021; PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.

EARTHQUAKES NOTES

LAST GAME VS. REAL SALT LAKE (9/15)

Hat-trick!

Midfielder Chofis scored his team-leading sixth, seventh and eighth goals of the season and of his MLS career. It also marked his first multi-goal game since joining the Quakes and the first hat-trick by an Earthquakes player since Chris Wondolowski on May 18, 2019.

Gol Olimpico

Chofis' third goal of the match became the ninth gol olimpico (scored directly from a corner kick) in MLS annals.

Getting Involved

Defender Luciano Abecasis tallied an assist on Chofis' first goal, marking his third assist of the season and third of his MLS career.

Busy Night

Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made a career-high nine saves.

LAST GAME VS. AUSTIN FC (9/18)

In Form

Midfielder Chofis scored his team-leading ninth and 10th goals of the season and of his MLS career. His first goal marked his first goal by way of penalty kick. Including his hat-trick on Wednesday, Chofis became the first Quakes player to score 5+ goals in a two-game span since Chris Wondolowski tallied six from May 18, 2019 (4) to May 26, 2019 (2).

First of the Year

Defender Marcos Lopez scored his first goal of the season and third of his MLS career. His goal also marks the first goal against Austin FC in Earthquakes history.

Adding his Grain of Sand

Midfielder Carlos Fierro tallied an assist on Lopez's goal, marking his third assist of the season and 10th of his MLS career.

First Assist

Rookie forward Benji Kikanovic tallied an assist on Espinoza's goal, marking his first assist of the season and of his MLS career. The match also marked his second MLS start.

Welcome Back

Defender Tommy Thompson started and played 68 minutes, marking his first appearance since June 22.

NEXT GAME VS. LAFC (9/25)

Young History

San Jose holds a record of 3-5-0 in eight MLS regular season matchups against LAFC, including a record of 2-2-0 at PayPal Park.

Round Two

Saturday's match will mark the second meeting between the Quakes and LAFC this season, and the second of three matchups between both clubs at PayPal Park in 2021.

Recent Home Success

The Quakes earned victories in their last two meetings against the SoCal side, both of which were played in San Jose (W 2-1, Aug. 8, 2021; W 3-2, Nov. 4, 2020).

Midtable Battle

Los Angeles FC currently occupy 8th in the Western Conference standings (33 pts) and are just three points ahead of San Jose (30).

De Regreso

Head coach Matias Almeyda will be available to coach from the sideline for Saturday's match after serving a single-match suspension last Saturday vs. Austin FC.

Check out the San Jose Earthquakes Statistics

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