As the strange, long 2020 season winds down, one thing has remained maddeningly crystal clear: LAFC is THE Jekyll and Hyde team of MLS this year. One night, we look like the Supporters Shield winning world-beaters we were for much of 2019. The next, we look slow, out of sync, and disorganized against an inferior opponent. Rinse, repeat, and throw in an injury or three, the coronavirus, and off-the-field issues. That’s our 2020 season in a long-winded nutshell.

 It was more of the same as LAFC headed to San Jose to take on Matias Almeyda’s Earthquakes squad. LAFC raced out to a somewhat undeserved 1-0 lead on a goal by forward (for this match) Latif Blessing, only to be caught napping on the near post for an own goal by Eduard Atuesta. Later in the half, after several other misses opportunities for the home side, the ageless wonder, Chris Wondolowski netted for the 166th time in his MLS career to put San Jose up a goal heading into the half. To be frank, LAFC was lucky to be down just a goal. 

 Taking off his spectacles and business suit, Carlos Vela emerged from the phone booth looking very much like the cape-wearing goal scorer of 2019. He played with pace, great touch, and, as the kids say, a little wiggle. He looked great. However, despite going down to 10 men, San Jose found another from their maestro, Cristian Espinoza, and LAFC was now chasing two. A late connection from Vela to Rossi made it close, but it was right before the final whistle, and LAFC found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline. 

 This match was not without its silver linings, however. Carlos Vela looked great. Diego Rossi extended his Golden Boot lead to three with just one match remaining. And if anything good can come from this type of a loss, San Jose’s win was Carson’s demise, as the Galaxy won’t be able to taste the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. 

 Also on the episode, the boys get alliterative, Scarf repeats himself on purpose, and Filly makes more fun of Andy Najar. We celebrate an MVP on This Day in LAFC History, we root for the first minutes for one of our Academy products, and we see a light at the end of the CCL tunnel. Or is that just a train? Only time will tell, or maybe Filly and the Scarf will on Episode 129!