Rattled by the Quakes: San Jose Earthquakes 2, LAFC 1

After another defeat, a sense of urgency is now settling in around LAFC. With the latest loss, 2-1 on the road against San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday at PayPal Park, LAFC find themselves on the postseason bubble, teetering.

The first half started off strong for San Jose. It took only 11 minutes for the home side to find the back of the net, and it came off the dreaded set-piece, a free kick. Cristian Espinoza went for goal himself with a near post attempt, but it was Nathan credited with getting just enough on it for the lead early.

Keeping the pressure on, the Quakes doubled their lead not long after. Some precise passing, and space-opening runs, saw Chofis Lopez finish a fairly easy look in the 28th minute, from mere feet out.

Unlike the previous match, LAFC didn't let the match get away from them. Carlos Vela, taking a free kick, put in an excellent ball into the box. While it initially looked to be a perfect headed effort from defender, Tristan Blackmon, it was officially ruled a Jackson Yueill own goal. Either way, LAFC cut the deficit going into the break.

The second half was one-way traffic in favor of the black-and-gold. They enjoyed over 50% possession for the majority of the second half, with San Jose focusing mainly on clogging up the midfield, in efforts to slow down the LAFC attack. It proved to be effective with LAFC unable to get any good looks to equalize it late.

The loss to San Jose is the second straight loss for the good guys, third in five matches. It also pushes the recent run to five winless. With 16 matches left in the season, and with LAFC sitting in seventh place, the playoff push has well and truly begun. If the black and gold want to avoid the improbable, not making the playoffs, they will need to get back to winning ways, now.

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