MLS: San Jose Earthquakes forwards Cristian Espinoza and Cristian “Chicho” Arango named to league’s Team of the Matchday
- Dan Stickradt
- May 6
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose Earthquakes forwards Cristian Espinoza and Cristian “Chicho” Arango have been named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday for Matchday 11.
Both players amassed three goal contributions apiece as the Earthquakes downed the Portland Timbers last Saturday night 4-1 at PayPal Park in a match presented by Valley Health Plan. San Jose’s 24 total team goals lead MLS, and their 19 through the first seven home games is a club record.
Espinoza enjoyed a two-goal and one-assist night, while Arango also put his versatility on display with one goal and two assists. At least one of the pair had a hand in all four Quakes goals, with both simultaneously involved in two of them.
The Earthquakes’ explosive attack initially struck in the 16th minute when Arango’s lead pass for an open DeJuan Jones on the right wing led to a subsequent one-touch into the box that found Espinoza to open the scoring. In the 24th minute, Espinoza played a one-two with Ousseni Bouda, with the former finishing the play clinically to double San Jose’s advantage, 2-0.
Three minutes later, Jones connected with Arango in transition and the Colombian star charged down the right wing with the ball, ultimately slotting it home for a 3-0 Quakes lead. The goal lifted Arango into a three-way tie for the league lead with seven.
In the 88th minute, Espinoza’s deep ball connected with Arango, who combined with a streaking Bouda who leaped and poked the ball past Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to seal a 4-1 final result. That assist was Espinoza’s seventh on the season and catapulted the Quakes’ team captain into the league lead. He also became the third active player to record at least 15 game-winning goals and 15 game-winning assists, joining Luciano Acosta and Diego Fagúndez.
The MLS Team of the Matchday selection is the third for Espinoza this season and his 23rd overall. For Arango, the distinction is the second since he joined San Jose in the offseason and the seventh of his career.
The Black and Blue will now look ahead to their debut in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, May 7, when they take on Sacramento Republic FC in the Round of 32. Kickoff from PayPal Park will take place at 7:30 p.m. PT, and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network as well as streamed on Paramount+.
MLS TEAM OF THE MATCHDAY (MATCHDAY 11)
Forwards: Chucky Lozano (SD), Anders Dreyer (SD), Cristian Espinoza (SJ)
Midfielders: Carles Gil (NE), Joaquín Pereyra (MIN), Dylan Chambost (CLB), Indiana Vassilev (PHI)
Defenders: Nouhou (SEA), Tristan Blackmon (VAN), Marcelo Weigandt (MIA) GK: Pedro Gallese (ORL)
Coach: Wilfried Nancy (CLB)
Bench: Matt Freese (NYC), Robert Voloder (SKC), Daniel Lovitz (NSH), Mohamed Farsi (CLB), Obed Vargas (SEA), Ryan Kent (SEA), Nathan Ordaz (LAFC), Chicho Arango (SJ), Christian Benteke (DC)
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