The final encounter on MLS Decision Day will feature Los Angeles FC seeking to claim first place in the Western Conference when they host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at BMO Stadium.
A 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps last Sunday has the Black and Gold within three points of the Los Angeles Galaxy, while the Quakes have long been eliminated from playoff contention, sitting bottom of the conference after a 1-0 defeat versus Real Salt Lake.
Match preview
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First place may still be a stretch for LAFC by the end of the regular season, but to their credit, the MLS Cup runners-up from 2023 are fighting to the bitter end.
Saturday is a must-win game if they are to surpass the Galaxy for first in the conference, while they will also need their LA rivals to lose and have a three-goal swing fall their way.
Last weekend, they fought off a pesky Whitecaps team that pushed them hard right to the end, with the Black and Gold netting the winner in second-half stoppage time.
The hosts head into this final regular season fixture in fine form, on a four-match MLS winning run, climbing above the 60-point mark last weekend for the third time in club history.
Steve Cherundolo's men have won nine domestic encounters this season by a single goal, five of which took place at BMO Stadium.
LAFC have won 10 regular-season home contests in 2024, and another one on Saturday would surpass their total from 2023 (10).
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Mercifully, another MLS campaign in Napa Valley will end on Saturday as the San Jose Earthquakes aim to finish a dismal campaign on a positive note.
If they can win this match, Ian Russell's men will have won two of their last three domestic contests, which may be one of the few positives for this club in 2024.
While their post-season aspirations were over long ago, the Quakes can salvage a little pride by avoiding defeat in this encounter, as they are currently on 21 points, tied with the 2018 team for the fewest ever in an MLS campaign.
The Quakes have a mere four points from their previous seven league fixtures while winning the joint second-fewest away matches in the competition this year (two).
Should they concede even just once to LAFC, they would set a league record for the most goals ever conceded in a single season, as they are currently level with the 2019 FC Cincinnati team (75) in that department.
San Jose have lost five of their last six competitive meetings with the Black and Gold away from home, with their previous victory at BMO Stadium occurring in 2020 (2-1) when it was called Banc of California Stadium.
Team News
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In their victory over Vancouver, LA were missing Jesus Murillo because of a knee injury, while Lorenzo Dellavalle will not be back this season due to a torn ACL.
Several players, including Cristian Olivera, Maxime Chanot, Omar Campos and leading goalscorer Denis Bouanga, should return from the international break in time for this encounter.
Mateusz Bogusz scored 32 seconds into their previous encounter, the second-fastest goal in club history after Chicho Arango in 2021 (20 seconds), with the winner coming courtesy of Ilie Sanchez.
Several Quake players are questionable for this contest, as Ousseni Bouda, Benji Kikanovic, Will Richmond, Michael Baldisimo and Jamar Ricketts are all suffering from lower body injuries.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski remains sidelined due to a torn ACL, while Preston Judd was back on the field in their previous encounter after suffering an upper-body issue earlier in the campaign.
Hernan Lopez had the only goal the last time they visited BMO Stadium during the 2024 Leagues Cup in a match they wound up losing 4-1.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Duenas, Chanot, Long; Palencia, Tillman, Sanchez, O'Brien; Bogusz, Giroud, Bouanga
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Akapo, Rodrigues, Beason, Costa; Yueill, Tsakiris; Espinoza, Lopez, Pellegrino; Ebobisse
We say: Los Angeles FC 3-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Goal difference could make the difference between first and second in the west, which is why we project the Black and Gold will show no mercy against a helpless defensive unit in San Jose.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
