LAFC and San Jose Earthquakes are in the last 8 of the MLS is Back tournament. Both teams won their matches convincingly, bidding a candidature for the trophy.
LAFC smashed the reigning champions, Seattle Sounders with 4-1, avenging their last year’s defeat in the MLS Cup’s playoffs. Back then the Sounders made a massive surprise once they eliminated the Supporters’ Shield winners.
FC waited for the chance to pay back all the frustration they went through back then, and it could be said that they did that with additional interest.
Not for one chance did Seattle had a chance to endanger the Bod Bradley’s boys. Diego Rossi was very inspired today, hitting the back of the net twice. His first goal came after 14 minutes of play from the penalty. Previously Rossi forced Xavier Arreaga to make a foul on him inside the box.
Latif Blessing doubled the lead in the 39th minute, and Will Bruin decreased the FC’s lead 15 minutes before the end, giving some hope for the Sounders that they might reach an equalizer. However, shortly after that all those dreams were crushed with Rossi’s second score and Brian Rodriguez’s first, one minute before the end of the regulations.
Bradley’s machinery is playing against Orlando City in the quarterfinals on July 31.
In the second game of the day, San Joe Earthquakes demolished Real Salt Lake with 5-2. Two goals took place in the span of 60 seconds, during the first half, with the Quakes taking the lead through Cristian Espinoza, and RSL responding with Douglas Martinez’s goal.
San Jose got a 2-1 lead through Magnus Eriksson on the 49th minute, with the Swedish forward executing a penalty awarded after Alvin Jones took down Tommy Thompson inside the box.
Vako raised the lead to 3-1 twelve minutes later, but Salt Lake clawed back with Damir Kreilach. However, Marcelo Silva received a red card in the 84th minute, and that was pretty much the end of all hopes for Real to make a comeback. Chris Wondolowski used this to add one more goal to his tally, and Erikson scored another goal from the penalty.
The Earthquakes are now awaiting the better from the match from Columbus vs. Minnesota.