Two early San Jose goals from Nathan and Chofis powered the Earthquakes past visiting Los Angeles FC Sunday afternoon at PayPal Park.
San Jose now has a seven-game unbeaten streak (2-0-5) and now sits only two points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference.
“The last three or four matches were against really good teams, the best in the league in my opinion,” said Cristian Espinoza, who was responsible for setting up both goals. “We’ve done well. We’ve been able to take the victory in two of them, so I think it’s about keeping order and continue to be a team that gets better physically.”
After a foul deep in LAFC’s side of the field, Espinoza took a free-kick whipped towards goal eleven minutes in. Quakes defender Nathan stretched out his foot and was able to slightly deflect the ball past LAFC keeper Tomas Romero.
“I think he is an excellent reinforcement,” Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda said after the match about Nathan’s impact on the team. “Game after game, he has been adapting very well.”
Espinoza took advantage of an LAFC defensive error in the 28th minute to run behind the backline and cross a soft pass to the streaming Chofis who calmly slotted the ball into the net.
“He is focused on growing and improving, I don’t think he’s even realized his potential,” added Almeyda about Chofis.
LAFC scored their goal off an own goal from San Jose’s Jackson Yueill in the 39th minute.
Quakes keeper JT Marcinkowski had another shutout tallying six saves during the match.
New signing Jeremy Ebobisse made his deut for San Jose entered the game late in the first half.
“Everyone in the team environment has been super open and have been trying to make it as easy as possible for me to feel settled in,” said Ebobisse.
“I think he Is a player that will give San Jose a lot,” explained Almeyda. “Whenever a player wins on their debut, that is important. He and his teammates gave their maximum effort.”
San Jose will look to continue their unbeaten streak against the Vancouver Whitecaps at home this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
