LAFC tune up for playoffs vs. last-place Earthquakes

With a playoff spot long secured and home-field advantage locked up in Round 1, Los Angeles FC still have a chance to make it personal on Decision Day.

LAFC are set to host the last-place San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday with an outside chance at overtaking the rival Los Angeles Galaxy for the top spot in the Western Conference.

Not only would the Galaxy have to lose to the Houston Dynamo, LAFC would need a victory over the Earthquakes, while overcoming a two-score goal differential to their rival. The Galaxy have a plus-20 differential, while LAFC are plus-18.

On a five-match winning streak across all competitions, LAFC (18-8-7, 61 points) have outscored opponents 11-3 in that stretch. The Earthquakes (6-24-3, 21 points) are limping to the finish line at 1-4-1 since the start of September.

"If you do your job, but (outside) results don't go your way, there's no point in making that a negative by any means. It's only positive," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. "We've won a couple of games in a row now and to finish the season on a high note, with a win, is very important."

Denis Bouanga leads LAFC with 19 goals on the season, one off his team-leading mark from 2023. He also has two goals over his last three matches played but missed Sunday's 2-1 victory at Vancouver while on international duty.

Bouanga also has a team-best 11 assists, while Mateusz Bogusz has scored 15 goals.

The Earthquakes are at the end of an 11th consecutive season without a winning record, although they did craft a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas on Oct. 2. They lost their home finale 1-0 to Real Salt Lake on Oct. 5.

Amahl Pellegrino leads San Jose with seven goals, while Jeremy Ebobisse and Hernan Lopez have six goals apiece. Cristian Espinoza is tied for eighth in MLS with 14 assists.

The Earthquakes' issues have been on the defensive side, allowing an MLS-high 75 goals. San Jose did earn a 3-1 victory at home over LAFC on May 4, then lost the next two meetings (one regular season, one Leagues Cup) by a combined 10-3 tally.

"LAFC is very good, and they're still playing for positions in the standings," San Jose interim coach Ian Russell said. "We do match up pretty well against them. We beat them already this season, so just go down there, play good football, defend well and try to hurt them."

--Field Level Media