LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to LAFC 2-1 on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. The match saw defender Miguel Trauco score his first MLS goal.
LAFC took a 1-0 lead through Stipe Biuk in the third minute. San Jose responded with six shots until finding the equalizer in the 52nd minute. Miguel Trauco fired a shot from long distance that went through a crowded penalty box and bounced into goalkeeper John McCarthy’s net.
The two teams continued looking for their second goal until LAFC found the game-winner via penalty taken by Carlos Vela in second half stoppage time.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose to host FC Dallas on Saturday, May 27, presented by CalHOPE. The match will kick off from PayPal Park at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed globally on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app, as well as on local radio via 810 AM The Spread (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 5-5-3 record (18 pts.) during the 2023 regular season and currently sit in fifth place in the 14-team Western Conference.
The Quakes are now 6-8-0 all-time against LAFC, including a 1-6-0 record on the road.
Defender Miguel Trauco scored his first MLS goal.
MATCH INFORMATION
2023 MLS Regular Season
Los Angeles FC 2 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, May 20, 2023 – BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Attendance: 22,030
Scoring Summary:
LAFC (1-0) – Stipe Biuk (Jose Cifuentes, Ryan Hollingshead) 3’
SJ (1-1) – Miguel Trauco (unassisted) 52’
LAFC (2-1) – Carlos Vela (penalty) 90+5’
Misconduct Summary:
LAFC – Denil Maldonado (caution) 29’
SJ – Judson (caution) 89’
SJ – Tanner Beason (caution) 90+5’
LAFC: John McCarthy; Denil Maldonado, Diego Palacios, Ryan Hollingshead, Sergi Palencia; Ilie Sanchez (C), Erik Dueñas (Timothy Tillman 64’), Jose Cifuentes; Stipe Biuk (Nathan Ordaz 85’), Mateusz Bogusz (Denis Bouanga 64’), Kwadwo Opoku (Carlos Vela 64’).
Substitutes not used: Daniel Crisostomo, Noah Dollenmayer, Julian Gaines, Eldin Jakupovic, Diego Rosales.
*
SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 15; CORNER KICKS: 15; SAVES: 2*
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Paul Marie, Rodrigues, Jonathan Mensah, Miguel Trauco; Jamiro Monteiro (Tanner Beason 83’), Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill (C) (Judson 67’); Benji Kikanović (Tommy Thompson 64’), Jeremy Ebobisse (Ousseni Bouda 83’), Cristian Espinoza.
Substitutes not used: Michael Baldisimo, Daniel (GK), Daniel Munie, Jack Skahan.
*
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 9; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 5*
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH LUCHI GONZALEZ
On tonight’s analysis:
“Obviously, we didn’t start the way we would’ve liked in terms of conceding early. LAFC were very aggressive. It’s important we recognize with them committing so many numbers in our own half, even in our defensive third, recognizing that to break their lines and get in behind is really important, especially early in the game with their fans behind them, wanting a response as well from tying last game to Sporting Kansas City. I thought our preparation was good. We were up for this one. It was definitely not the start we wanted. I thought that we got into the game at the 20th minute controlling their momentum and creating our own. I liked the way few finished the first half in terms of creating chances, getting pressure on the ball, creating turnovers, and leading to offensive transitions, and a little bit more bite and connection defensively. Second half, I thought we were fantastic, we created chances, we pushed the lines up, and the guys showed great energy and protagonism to push to tie the game and we earned that. As the game went on and after they conceded at home, they started to commit their numbers. But I thought we absorbed it well. We were very solid defensively. I was very confident we would get one point out of the game and even potentially create a chance in transition that could lead to a win, but it didn’t happen. I’m proud of our group, proud of how we represented ourselves, how we acted, how we played. This one hurts because we were close, we were really close. There are things that we will review as a team, that we know that we can do better in the little details to see the game out. And then we have an opportunity next week against FC Dallas and channel our energy and focus into that.”
On defender Miguel Trauco’s goal and adaptation so far this season:
“Miguel is an experienced player that has played high level games in pressured environments and moments. He responded and rose to the test today dealing with speed and combination play with various interchanges and wingers on his side and I thought he handled it really well. He showed his experience and his composure with the ball. He’s high quality in terms of buildup and playing forward, breaking lines, and that was a really smart play putting it in the mix/goal. Anything can happen. Proud of him. He is a player that coming into pre-season has worked really hard. He’s been very competitive in training, so we’re happy with his progress and he’s important for us to continue to compete.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER MIGUEL TRAUCO
On his thoughts from tonight:
“We’re frustrated because it was a game that we were controlling their attacking well. There were some things at the end that earned them the three points, so it’s a bitter feeling for us because we were giving it our all on the field and due to some minor errors we weren’t able to take any points. We have to turn the page, continue working, and fix those small mistakes that can cost us the game.”
On scoring his first MLS goal:
“Happy for scoring my first goal, although it was a weird one. It wasn’t that pretty, but what’s important is that it motivated us to go out and try to win the match. It helped us in the moment, unfortunately things didn’t turn out in our favor but I’m happy for my first goal and I hope that it leads to a win next time.”
