Los Angeles FC scored three goals in the second half to defeat the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 on Saturday night, the final match of the MLS regular season for both teams.
LAFC (19-8-7, 64 points) finished with the same number of wins and points as the LA Galaxy atop the Western Conference standings, but claimed the conference’s top seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs on goal differential (20-19) due to the Houston Dynamo’s 2-1 win over the Galaxy. LAFC will face either the eighth-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps or ninth-seeded Portland Timbers in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Earthquakes (6-25-3, 21 points), already assured a last-place finish in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, finished tied with the 1999 MetroStars for the most losses in MLS history.
Denis Bouanga pulled Los Angeles level at 1-1 in the 64th minute, striking a misplaced header from Quakes defender Rodrigues into the back of the net for his 20th goal of the season. He ended the regular season in a tie for the second-most goals in the league with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
LAFC then made it 2-1 in the 75th minute thanks to Eduard Atuesta, just seconds after he entered the match as a 75th-minute substitute. He took a give-and-go pass from Kei Kamara, ventured into the box, and laced it past San Jose goalkeeper Daniel for a 2-1 lead. It was his fourth of the season.
Marlon made it 3-1 in second-half stoppage time, setting the match’s final scoreline with his first goal of the season.
Jackson Yueill scored for the Earthquakes in the ninth minute, his first of the season.
Kamara and Atuesta each had assists for LAFC. Paul Marie assisted on San Jose’s goal.
Los Angeles ended the regular season with an 11-2-4 home record. San Jose fell to 2-13-2 away from home.
–Field Level Media
