Walker Zimmerman bags brace as LAFC blanks the Earthquakes

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

Defender Walker Zimmerman scored a pair of goals and LAFC took down the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in an MLS game on a warm Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.

It was warm enough on the field Saturday that the referee ordered water breaks in each half.

LAFC (50 points) kept their inaugural season going in the right direction, staying in the middle of the playoff race in the Western Conference. With five games left, LAFC are within six points of tying the record for most points by an expansion team in MLS history.

The woeful season continued for San Jose (20 points) as the Earthquakes were eliminated from the playoffs before the game.

LAFC controlled the flow of play throughout, except for a stretch in the middle of the first half. It was such a dominating performance from LAFC that they held a 12-1 advantage on corner kicks (18-4 on shots, 8-1 on target).

Walker Zimmerman celebrates after scoring a goal for LAFC against San Jose.
Walker Zimmerman celebrates after scoring a goal for LAFC against San Jose.
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And it was those corner kicks that turned out to be the key, as both goals came as a direct result one, with both coming from the foot of Carlos Vela and the head of Zimmerman.

LAFC drew first blood in the 41st minute when Zimmerman headed home a corner kick from Vela. LAFC ended the first half with a 9-1 advantage on corner kicks.

Zimmerman made it 2-0 in the 68th minute with his second goal of the game -- and the season. Vela's corner found Zimmerman pretty much unmarked six-yards out from the San Jose goal, giving Quakes keeper James Marcinkowski no chance.

Even though San Jose was out-shot 11-3 in the first 45 minutes, the Quakes turned in a solid middle of the opening half, controlling the ball a fair amount of the time.

LAFC keeper Tyler Miller needed just one save to earn his ninth shutout of the season.