Los Angeles FC coach Steve Cherundolo quickly refocused on Saturday's MLS clash with the San Jose Earthquakes in a bid to move on from a midweek defeat to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.

LAFC were eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Miami and an inspired Messi, who scored twice in a 3-1 second-leg win for his side.

It was a painful result for LAFC, who had led the quarter-final tie 1-0 after the first leg, but there is little time to stew on it.

Cherundolo's side are straight back into action against San Jose this weekend, something the coach sees as an opportunity.

"[We move on] by playing the next match," he said. "That's the beauty of playing in multiple competitions, to forget performances and [so] you don't have to analyse this thing down to the last play of the game.

"Emotions are part of it, but these guys are professionals, so they'll deal with that in the right way.

Our Champions Cup run comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/U2g6nh49zq
— LAFC (@LAFC) April 10, 2025

"We will be ready Saturday. We will have a team on the field ready to win a match; that's certainly our objective.

"There'll be a little breather after that, but it's now clear for us we can start focusing on MLS and climbing back up that table."

LAFC have lost their past two league games, falling to ninth in the Western Conference, a point and a place behind the Quakes.

San Jose are the leading scorers in the West, however, having thrashed DC United 6-1 last time out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Bouanga was picked out for particular praise by Cherundolo after the Miami match, but he is still waiting for his first goal of the new MLS season.

Having netted 20 in each of the previous two campaigns, he and LAFC will hope one goal is quickly followed by more.

San Jose Earthquakes – Josef Martinez

If Bouanga is a little out of sorts in front of goal right now, the same can certainly not be said for Martinez.

He hit a hat-trick in that big win over DC, his record-extending seventh treble in the regular season.

Since moving to MLS with Atlanta United in 2017, he now has 120 goals in the regular season, an incredible 42 more than any other player.

MATCH PREDICTION – LAFC WIN

LAFC have taken control of this match-up after a slow start. They have won three straight against San Jose after three wins in their previous 11 meetings.

They also tend to respond well to setbacks.

Not only did LAFC lose to Miami, they were also beaten in their last home game in the regular season, going down 1-0 to Austin FC. They have never lost consecutive home matches in the competition, winning their next game after a defeat on nine occasions.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Los Angeles FC – 72.6%

Draw – 15.8%

San Jose Earthquakes – 11.6%