LAFC rocks Almeyda’s Quakes 5-1 at the Banc
It was a beautiful evening matchup between two Golden State sides. Not many MLS venues have a better setting than Banc of California Stadium. San Jose is coming off a severe loss to the LA Galaxy, while the Black and Gold have a losing streak they are attempting to end.
Bradley’s team began the game with a 4-3-3 lineup with hopes of pressuring the visiting Earthquakes, who started the game with a 4-2-3-2 alignment with Pablo Sisniega at goalie. Early in the game, LAFC possessed much of the ball in San Jose’s territory. The home team was relentless on offense early in the first half, and in the 21st minute, it paid off as Diego Rossi scored with his right foot. He shot from the left side of the box to put his team up 1-0. Almeyda’s squad attacked the left side of the field, but Latif Blessing held his own in that portion of the area. He demonstrated he could be a physical player, in addition to his tremendous dribbling skills. As the first half continued, the Earthquakes were slowly winning the possession battle. They inched closer to getting shots on goal, but that did not manifest as they went into the half with a 1-0 deficit.
Bob Bradley’s team came out in the second half with tremendous on-ball pressure. Only four minutes after the half got underway, following a San Jose turnover, Bradley Wright-Phillips scored a right footed shot from the center of the box. LAFC was slowly building confidence after that second goal. Brian Rodriguez made his presence in the second half as he created opportunities for LAFC. His speed and agility were on full display as he assisted in a goal in the 64th minute—the Angeleno team up by a score of 3-0 with a goal from José Cifuentes.
The onslaught continued as just a mere five minutes later, Diego Rossi scored his second goal of this match as he put it behind the net with his right foot. A score that included a soft touch, and just like that, Bradley’s men were up 4-0. The Earthquakes unraveled in the second half. Danny Musovski also got into the goal-scoring action for LAFC by scoring in the 84th minute, making the score 5-0. As the game concluded with that 5-1 score as San Jose’s Danny Hoesen prevents the shut out. This result sets up a very intriguing matchup this weekend. El Trafico, as LAFC, gets ready to face a suddenly streaking Los Angeles Galaxy.
