The San Jose Earthquakes will get a chance to clinch an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth in their final regular season home match after it was announced that their rescheduled Week 22 meeting with LAFC will be played on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 11 p.m. ET (ESPN+ in USA).
The match was originally slated for Sunday, Nov. 1, but it was rescheduled out of an abundance of caution after three LAFC players tested positive for COVID-19. Since the announcement on Oct. 31, LAFC announced that all other players and members of the club have returned multiple negative results.
The SJ-LAFC match will be available out-of-market on ESPN+ and it will air locally on NBC Sports California (SJ), YouTubeTV and KRCA 62.2 (LA).
The stakes in SJ-LAFC
The Earthquakes currently occupy the 8th and final playoff spot in the West with 27 points in 21 matches (1.29 PPG) and a win against LAFC would clinch a berth. A draw could also do the trick with some help.
Victory for the Quakes would ensure they would finish with a minimum of 1.30 PPG, mathematically preventing pursuers Vancouver Whitecaps (maximum potential PPG of 1.17) and LA Galaxy (maximum PPG of 1.23) from catching up if they win their final matches. San Jose can also clinch with a draw as long as the LA Galaxy don't win against the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, LAFC have already secured a spot in the postseason and they are hoping to move up into the top four spots in the West, guaranteeing they would host their First Round match.
After their meeting on Wednesday, both the Earthquakes and LAFC will have one final game on Decision Day presented by AT&T on Sunday, Nov. 8: The Earthquakes travel to meet the Seattle Sounders, while LAFC host the Portland Timbers (FS1, FOX Deportes). Both matches will kick off simultaneously along with four other Western Conference matches at 6:30 p.m. ET.
