Timo Werner scored a goal with an assist in a three-minute stretch and the San Jose Earthquakes continued their franchise-record start to the season with a 4-1 road victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
Ousseni Bouda scored a pair of goals for the Earthquakes, who took charge in a dominating five-minute stretch of the second half. Bouda scored in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 lead, Werner followed with a goal in the 56th minute and LAFC coughed up an own goal in the 58th minute to make it 3-0.
Daniel made three saves as San Jose (7-1-0, 21 points) moved even on points with the Vancouver Whitecaps atop the Western Conference.
Werner, who was acquired from Germany’s RB Leipzig in January, was making just his second MLS start and had not played in a league game since March 21 because of a lower-body injury.
After advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals on Tuesday, LAFC (5-2-1, 16 points) allowed more than two goals in an MLS game for the first time this season while dropping their second consecutive league match.
LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had not allowed a goal all season, made two saves. His club-record scoreless streak of 593 minutes ended with Bouda’s first goal of the match. LAFC opened the season with an MLS-record six consecutive shutouts.
Bouda’s initial goal came off a cross from Werner as he blasted a shot short side against Lloris. Werner scored his first career MLS goal a short time later when he picked up an LAFC turnover near midfield and worked his way through the defense to score from just outside the 6-yard box.
The Earthquakes made it 3-0 when Jamar Ricketts sent a cross in front of the goal and LAFC defender Ryan Porteous deflected the ball into the goal.
The Earthquakes saw the lead cut to 3-1 on an own goal when defender Reid Roberts deflected a ball past Daniel with his left foot.
Bouda made it 4-1 in the 80th minute when he scored again on the short side past a flat-footed Lloris.
–Field Level Media
