SANTA CLARA – Perhaps a change of scenery — and the unexpected debut of recently signed Hernán López — will help the Earthquakes stop the winless skid the team has been on since March.
The cellar-dwelling San Jose Earthquakes will try to include a win as part of their early Cinco de Mayo weekend celebrations when the team plays host to Los Angeles FC on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, some six miles from their usual home at PayPal Park by the San Jose airport.
Playing in possibly sold-out Levi’s could give the team the spark they need to play like last year’s more-competent side.
“I don’t have to say too much, because these guys are excited to play in this stadium,” coach Luchi Gonzalez said this week. “It doesn’t get better than this.”
Friday afternoon, however, the Quakes announced that López, the 23-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder recently signed for a club-record fee of nearly $6 million, has been cleared to play. His debut was expected to be delayed until the middle of the month as his visa went through.
The great nephew of Diego Maradona will be a welcome addition. He spent five seasons in Argentina’s top league, with 12 goals and seven assists during that span. The left-footed No. 10 has seven goals and six assists in the last one-and-a-half seasons with Godoy Cruz.
Team captain Cristian Espinoza and his five assists have helped keep the Sharks offense afloat, the team ranking 14th out of 29 teams in goals at 14 on the season.
The defense has been another story, giving up a league-high 25 goals in 10 matches, which is the biggest reason San Jose is 1-1-8 with four points.
Espinoza scored twice in last year’s game against LAFC at Levi’s, bagging an 83rd minute game-winning penalty kick to secure a brace and the 2-1 victory.
“Honestly, it’s a really good atmosphere, and last year was amazing,” Espinoza said. “Hopefully this year will be amazing too.”
Gonzalez hopes the 1-1 draw against Nashville was a sign of things to come.
“This group right now is competing well and are coming off getting a good point against Nashville,” the coach said. “This game against LAFC couldn’t come at a better time.”
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, once considered the best in the world at his position when he played for Spurs, is still a capable shot-stopper at 37-years-old for the visitors.
And in attack, LAFC’s potent trio of forward Denis Bouanga, wing Timothy Tillman and attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz bring 13 combined goals against a leaky Earthquake back line.
“They’ve had their ups and downs, but they’re always dangerous,” Gonzalez said. “I always feel like whether they’re playing well or not, they can hurt you with special attacking talent.”
