The Earthquakes have qualified for the postseason just twice in the last decade (2017 and ‘20) and were booted in the first round each time. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2012.
Cristian Espinoza’s equalizer gives the San Jose Earthquakes a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Stanford, Calif. Saturday evening at PayPal Park could mark the turnaround of a struggling franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in 11 years. It could be the sign of a club that’s changed directions behind a new coach with a new vision.
With MLS’ new expanded playoff format, the top seven teams in each conference earn a berth to the first round of the playoffs, which feature a best-of-three format in which the higher seed hosts two games and the lower seed hosts one. The two teams behind the Quakes, Sporting KC and Minnesota , are each sitting at 41 points and will play against one another on Saturday. If they draw, the Quakes will automatically qualify as the nine seed, no matter their result. But if either Sporting KC or Minnesota wins and the Quakes do not, the Quakes are out of the playoffs yet again.
Led by first-year coach Luchi Gonzalez, an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team during the 2022 World Cup,to become more of a secure, defensive-minded club that’s difficult to break down but doesn’t score many goals. The only way a draw helps the Quakes is if FC Dallas or Portland lose, in which case the Quakes could move ahead of them in the standings and end up in a position to host the wild-card game instead of playing on the road. A draw for San Jose paired with losses from both FC Dallas and Portland would mean the Quakes wouldn’t have to play in the wild-card game and would advance to a best-of-three series against the No. 2 seed next weekend.
“I’d love to play them in the next round, that’d be awesome,” Gonzalez said. “But that’s not the thought. We have to earn that. We’re not there yet.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
San Jose Earthquakes take draw streak into matchup against AustinThe San Jose Earthquakes host Austin after playing to a draw in three consecutive games.
Read more »
College Football Playoff projections -- How Ohio State-Penn State will affect the playoffOhio State vs. Penn State is the most impactful game to the College Football Playoff chase in the regular season. How will CFP fortunes change based on the result?
Read more »
Jose Altuve, in 100th playoff game, sparks Astros in Game 4 of ALCSAstros star Jose Altuve set the tone with three hits and became just the seventh player to reach 100 career postseason games Thursday night as Houston routed Texas 10-3 to tie the ALCS at 2-2.
Read more »
Better effort, but same result for San Jose Sharks as challenging homestand endsThe San Jose Sharks allowed goals to Brad Marchand, James van Riemsdyk and David Pastrnak and only managed an Anthony Duclair goal at the other end in a loss to the Boston Bruins
Read more »
Sale closed in San Jose: $1.8 million for a three-bedroom homeA 1,584-square-foot house built in 1961 has changed hands. The property located in the 2500 block of Aragon Way in San Jose was sold on Sept. 25, 2023, for $1,765,000, or $1,114 per square foot.
Read more »
Plans for thousands of homes on San Jose golf course get county boostA Santa Clara County decision provides a big boost to plans for thousands of homes on a San Jose golf course.
Read more »