MLS: Earthquakes to play LAFC in rescheduled game Wednesday

Nov. 4--The San Jose Earthquakes can clinch an MLS Cup playoff spot Wednesday night when they face the Los Angeles Football Club in a rescheduled match that was postponed Sunday because of a COVID-19 outbreak within LAFC.

The league announced the Quakes are cleared to play LAFC at 8 p.m. Wednesday in their final regular season home game after all L.A. players and staff returned multiple negative COVID tests.

Three members of LAFC tested positive before Sunday's game, prompting MLS to call the game off for precautionary measures.

San Jose currently occupies the eighth and final playoff spot in the West and can earn a postseason berth by beating LAFC at Avaya Stadium. The Quakes have 27 points in 21 matches (1.29 points per game) and they'd clinch their fourth playoff berth in 12 years.

Instead of the normal MLS procedure of total points determining the standings, the league is using points per game averages since teams haven't played the same number of games.

If the Quakes can't beat or tie LAFC Wednesday, not all hope is lost for San Jose. The Quakes would still have an opportunity to earn their way into the postseason by beating first-place Seattle on the road in their regular-season finale Sunday.

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