LOS ANGELES — Engineering a complete reversal of their meeting earlier this month, the Los Angeles Football Club scored early and connected on a late penalty to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 on Saturday.
LAFC captain Carlos Vela converted a game-winner from the spot in the 95th minute after referee Ismail Elfath confirmed via video review that San Jose defender Tanner Beason handled the ball in the box.
The outcome helped LAFC (7-1-4, 25 points) drop just two points in three games during an eight-day stretch, lifting them into first place in the Western Conference while keeping pace with Supporters’ Shield leaders Cincinnati FC.
“As far as where we’re at in the league, we couldn’t be happier,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Compliments to the players. They’ve been focused when they’ve needed to be focused. We’ve had very little time on the training field to work, so each minute we’ve had together on the pitch has been very focused and concentrated. So it’s been an amazingly professional environment.”The outcome marked Cherundolo’s 28th victory after 46 regular season matches at the helm of LAFC, making him the winningest manager in MLS history within their first 50 games.
His team’s success in 2022 yielded a congested schedule this year, and while other MLS teams have faltered under the strain of playing multiple competitions, LAFC is thriving.
“In the way we are managing games and minutes I think we are doing a really good job,” said Vela, who started the previous two contests before coming off the bench Saturday. “The only thing you can say is we are a really good team.”
The calendar and a variety of injuries prompted LAFC to go with another mix-and-match lineup ahead of a US Open Cup match versus the Galaxy on Tuesday and the anticipated start of the CONCACAF Champions League final on May 31.
On a night when LAFC sat the league’s leading goal scorer Denis Bouanga along with the single-season scoring record holder in Vela until the late stages, midfielder Eric Duenas received his first MLS start at BMO Stadium and young forward Stipe Biuk looked to improve the quality of his shots.
Playing 448 minutes during 11 league games, the 20-year-old Croatian, who signed a four-year contract with the club in December, scored once after 14 attempts, six of which were on target.
The young forward needed two minutes and 17 seconds before delivering as clinically as he wished.
Paired with 21-year-old forwards Mateusz Bogusz and Mahala Opoku in a starting lineup that featured a makeshift backline as several of the club’s center backs rested with leg injuries, Biuk capitalized on passes from Ryan Hollingshead and Jose Cifuentes by sidestepping to his right before striking a low shot in the box past Earthquakes’ goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.
“I’m very happy for this goal,” Biuk said. “It gives me more confidence. We started really well. We had the ball and played really fast.”
LAFC buzzed around San Jose’s net all match looking to extend the lead, yet the Earthquakes (5-5-3, 18 points) found the equalizer in the 53rd minute when Peruvian defender Miguel Trauco scored his first MLS goal in his 12th match.
In contrast to Biuk’s sharp shot, no one on the field sensed that Trauco’s offering from outside the box had eyes for goal. LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy, who made a strong save denying a rocket of a shot in the 32nd minute, was slow to react as the left-footed volley floated into the danger area and bounced untouched into the net.
Biuk nearly scored again in the 67th minute when he moved to his left and forced Marcinkowski into a tremendous save that kept the match level until the club’s sixth goal from the penalty spot late in stoppage time.
“He’s been a little bit unlucky,” Cherundolo said of Biuk, who played 85 minutes. “There’s been some really great saves against him. Just some unfortunate moments. He should’ve been on the scoreboard a few more times this season already but right there we saw exactly what we’ve been working on with him. Control. Short touches. Pulling the trigger. And not taking long steps. Smaller steps, smaller touches, more touches makes it really difficult for a defender and goalkeeper to react when the trigger is short. He’s been playing extremely well. So I’m very happy for him. He had a good game tonight.”
