Earthquakes lose home finale to Real Salt Lake on late goal

SAN JOSE (AP) — Diego Luna scored in the 78th minute Saturday night to help Real Salt Lake send the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 to a loss in their final home game of the 2024 season.

Luna took a pass from Braian Ojeda about 10 yards outside the penalty area and, without much pressure from the Earthquakes defense, ripped a left-footed shot that bounced off the back post into the net to give Real Salt Lake (15-7-11, 56 points) a 1-0 lead.

RSL had 55% possession and outshot the Earthquakes 14-6, 6-1 on target.

Still, Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell felt his team had a chance to win.

“They had some chances early on, and then most of their chances came from outside the box. Unfortunately, that one went in,” he said of Luna’s goal. “They did hit the crossbar and one back post header. But if you look at the chances, we didn’t have a lot, but we had two really big chances. One with Rodrigues’ header that normally, he can put those away, six yards out, seven yards out, and then Preston Judd had a late one.”

Goalkeeper Daniel had five saves for San Jose (6-24-3, 21 points).

Real Salt Lake has 56 points, tied with the Seattle Sounders for third in the Western Conference, two behind second-place Los Angeles FC. Salt Lake extended its unbeaten streak to five consecutive games.

The Earthquakes lost for the third time in four games and have just one win in their last seven since the Leagues Cup break. They are last in MLS, nine points behind Chicago, the East’s worst team.

The Quakes finish their 2024 season after next week’s international break, on Oct. 19 at LAFC.