LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes earned a 3-0 win over Los Angeles Football Club in a preseason contest at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The match marked the Quakes’ first against an MLS side under new head coach Matias Almeyda.
Magnus Eriksson, Chris Wondolowski and Vako each tallied a goal for San Jose, while Wondolowski and Cristian Espinoza both recorded an assist. Vako currently leads the Quakes with two goals in three games so far this preseason.
The Quakes will now return to San Jose ahead of their first and only home preseason match on Saturday, Feb. 23 against Seattle Sounders FC. Tickets for the match which kicks off at 12:45 p.m. can be found here.
2019 Preseason
Los Angeles Football Club 0-3 San Jose Earthquakes
Feb. 16, 2019 – Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Attendance: Closed-door
Scoring Summary: SJ – Magnus Eriksson (unassisted) 15; SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Cristian Espinoza) 30; SJ - Vako (Chris Wondolowski) 85.
Misconduct Summary: LAFC – Eddie Segura (caution) 40; SJ – Anibal Godoy (caution) 40; SJ – Nick Lima (caution) 51; SJ – Guram Kashia (caution) 54; LAFC – Steven Beitashour (caution) 57; SJ – Luis Felipe (caution) 77.
LAFC: Tyler Miller (Pablo Sisniega 46); Steven Beitashour, Eddie Segura (Dejan Jakovic 71), Walker Zimmerman, Jordan Harvey (Niko Hämäläinen 71); Mark-Anthony Kaye (Javi Perez 46), Peter-Lee Vassell, Lee Nguyen, Carlos Vela (Shaft Brewer Jr. 86); Adama Diomande (Christian Ramirez 28), Diego Rossi (Latif Blessing 46).
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel Vega; Marcos Lopez, Harold Cummings, Guram Kashia, Nick Lima (Tommy Thompson 60); Magnus Eriksson (Luis Felipe 70), Judson (Jackson Yueill 75), Anibal Godoy (Florian Jungwirth 81), Cristian Espinoza (Shea Salinas 74); Vako, Chris Wondolowski.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On the team’s first performance against an MLS side:
“Last weekend, we faced Reno after travelling seven to eight hours from Cancun. We were tired when we arrived, and the game went bad for us. This week, we worked on correcting our mistakes, and getting confidence back into the players. They had a difficult season after winning four matches throughout the year. From their perspective, that’s tough for them. But we are excited. We have a lot of energy and ambition to help the guys and to go far together, and to once again form San Jose into an important team.”
On the result:
“There’s many things from today we can work on correcting, but the truth is that I saw a big change; really they played above all for the rival. We came here after losing, and after training sessions focused on being confident, playing together, making sacrifices. I told them any team I manage, everyone runs and everyone plays, and those who don’t see it that way will be left out.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ANIBAL GODOY
On the result:
“The feeling was good, the attitude has been very well among everyone. That was one of the main focuses, developing that mentality of wanting to change the situation we had last year. I think we’ve done that beyond the result. We played a good game and we knew how to manage any difficulties. More than in the second half, we dominated in the first, and I hope we can maintain that same energy throughout the season.”
