SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza has been named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday for Matchday 6. Espinoza’s first-half heroics helped lift the Quakes to their first win of the season in a Man of the Match performance.
After the Quakes opened the scoring just one minute prior, Cristian Espinoza tapped in the rebound from a Preston Judd attempt that deflected off Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei to double the lead before halftime. Both goals happened just 1 minute and 36 seconds apart, marking the fastest back-to-back goals in the league this season, eclipsing the previous mark of 2:02 by Austin FC against Philadelphia Union on March 16.
The MLS Team of the Matchday selection is Espinoza’s first of the season and 17th since joining the club in January of 2019.
MLS TEAM OF THE MATCHDAY (MATCHDAY 6)
Forwards: Lewis Morgan (RBNY), Dante Vanzeir (RBNY), Julián Carranza (PHI)
Midfielders: Fidel Barajas (RSL), Eduard Atuesta (LAFC), Mark Delgado (LA), Dénis Bouanga (LAFC)
Defenders: Brad Smith (HOU), Matt Miazga (CIN), Tyrese Spicer (TOR)
Goalkeeper: Oliver Semmle (PHI)
Coach: Jim Curtin (PHI)
Bench: John McCarthy (LA), Josh Yaro (STL), Ashley Westwood (CLT), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Riqui Puig (LA), Federico Bernardeschi (TOR), Cristian Espinoza (SJ), Christian Benteke (DC), Jack Lynn (ORL)
