San Jose Earthquakes v Los Angeles FC: Hosts have ´nothing to lose´ at Levi´s Stadium

Los Angeles FC coach Steve Cherundolo expects the struggling San Jose Earthquakes to play with “nothing to lose” when the sides face off at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday.

The Earthquakes have the worst record in MLS this year, taking just four points from their first 10 games to sit bottom of the Western Conference.

The New England Revolution also have four points at the foot of the East, but they have played one match fewer.

Los Angeles, by contrast, sit fifth in the West after sealing a last-gasp 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers last time out, and Cherundolo believes his team enter Saturday’s game in a good spot.

“They’re a very dangerous team, especially in the situation they’re in,” Cherundolo said of San Jose.

“I expect to see a team who play with nothing to lose, they’ll be aggressive, invest a lot into it and definitely want to win their home game.

“That’ll make it difficult for us, but we’re also in a decent moment and have the tools to be dangerous as well.”

Saturday’s game will be played at Levi’s Stadium – home to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers – as part of the ‘Quakes’ 50th-anniversary celebrations, and coach Luchi Gonzalez is looking forward seeing his team in action at the 68,500-capacity venue.

Next up is @LevisStadium.

San Jose takes on LAFC this Saturday, presented by @Audi! pic.twitter.com/mtaRlCPPYt

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) April 30, 2024

“It’s going to be beautiful to us no matter what,” Gonzalez said.

“The players love this field, they love the stadium, they love this locker room and they love the environment that we know we’re going to have on Saturday.

“We want to show respect to it, we want to honour it with our heart, with our intensity and energy to perform and bring our best on Saturday.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Jose Earthquakes – Jeremy Ebobisse

Ebobisse has scored six goals against LAFC in regular-season play. The only opponent he has scored more against is the LA Galaxy (10 goals).

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Bouanga has scored a result-changing goal in stoppage time in consecutive matches, netting a 95th-minute equaliser against the New York Red Bulls on April 20 then scoring the winning goal one minute into added time against Portland last week.

Could last season’s Golden Boot winner be set for another decisive contribution?

Break dancing to football, @BouangaDenis can do it all.

My Story by Denis Bouanga

— LAFC (@LAFC) May 3, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Los Angeles’ 3-2 win over Portland last week took them to 14 points from six matches on their own turf this year (four wins, two draws), a league-high tally.

However, they have only taken one point on the road, recording one draw and three defeats. Only the New England Revolution, with zero, have earned fewer points away from home.

Given LAFC’s Jekyll and Hyde performances, it’s difficult to back them for an away win. However, San Jose are just the seventh team in MLS history to accumulate four points or fewer through 10 games of a season, so it may not be a surprise to see the points shared in a cagey draw.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Jose Earthquakes – 34.1%

Los Angeles FC – 37.8%

Draw 28.1%