Leagues Cup: Quakes to host Liga MX’s Club Necaxa in Round of 32

The San Jose Earthquakes have earned an extra match on their schedule. 

After going 1-1 in group play, the Quakes advanced to the Leagues Cup Round of 32 where they will play Liga MX’s Club Necaxa on Thursday at PayPal Park. 

It’s the first time the Quakes advanced to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup in club history. 

San José upset La Liga MX club Chivas Guadalajara on July 27, winning 4-3 on penalties in front of over 50,000 fans at Levi’s Stadium. Though the Quakes dropped their second group play match against the L.A. Galaxy 2-1 at home last Wednesday, San Jose finished second in the West 2 Group to advance to the knockout stage. 

Necaxa secured first place in West Group 6 after beating the Seattle Sounders FC 3-1 on Sunday despite dropping their first match to Minnesota United FC last Tuesday. The Aguascalientes-based team is 11th in the Torneo Apertura standings through four matches.

This year will be the fourth edition of the Leagues Cup, a tournament that includes teams from the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Two of the last three Leagues Cup winners have been Liga MX teams. Soccer superstar Lionel Messi led Inter Miami CF to the Leagues Cup title last season over Nashville FC.

Since firing coach Luchi Gonzalez on June 24, the Quakes have gone 2-6, with wins over the Chicago Fire and Chivas. In that span, San Jose has scored just four goals and conceded 13. 

The Quakes are currently the worst team in MLS with a 4-19-2 record and a league-worst goal differential of minus-30.