Cowell’s timely goal beats LAFC

The forward scores in the 77th minute and the Earthquakes upset the MLS leaders.

Cade Cowell scored in the 77th minute to break a tie and the San Jose Earthquakes beat MLS-leading LAFC 2-1 on Saturday in San Jose.

Cowell hit a right-footed shot from the center of the box off an assist from Tommy Thompson to put the Earthquakes ahead. LAFC had tied the score early in the second half when Kwadwo Opoku scored in the 54th minute. Opoku hit a left-footed shot, fed by a nice through ball from Kellyn Acosta.

The Earthquakes took an early lead when Benjamin Kikanovic scored, thanks to an assist from Thompson.

LAFC (18-5-3) was shorthanded late in the match when Ilie Sánchez was shown his second yellow card. Cristian Arango fired wide left on a shot in injury time in LAFC’s final offensive threat.

San Jose, which is 12th in the Western Conference, improved to 6-11-9.