Can Hernan Lopez turn San Jose Earthquakes' season around? | OneFootball

The Earthquakes have endured a dismal start to the 2024 Major League Soccer season, winning just once and suffering eight defeats in their nine regular season games played. Winger Cristian Espinoza has struggled to find the net as often as he did last season when he notched an impressive 13 goals, as he's managed just one goal so far this term. However, Espinoza has registered five assists already - just eight less than he managed all of last season.

San Jose's leading goalscorer through nine games played is Jeremy Ebobisse with three goals, followed closely by Benjamin Kikanovic and Vitor with two goals apiece. Still, the Quakes have scored the seventh-most goals in league play with 13, but have been lacking a creative force from the midfield, where Lopez is set to operate.

The Western Conference side agreed to a reported club-record $6m transfer fee for Lopez, and they'll have high hopes that he can link up with Espinoza, Ebobisse and Amahl Pellegrino. Lopez can play as a right-winger given that he's left-footed, but he's been deployed as an attacking midfielder for the most part of his career with River Plate, Central Cordoba de Santiago and Godoy Cruz in Argentina.

Lopez's time with River was rather short - he managed one goal in one appearance for the South American giants between April 2019 and February 2021 - but a decent loan spell at Central Cordoba saw him join Godoy on a free transfer in January 2023.

The Villa del Parque, Argentina native has reached new heights with Godoy as the team sit currently sit in first place in the Copa De La Liga Profesional with 29 points, two points ahead of River. Lopez has played his part with two goals in nine appearances from the midfield after his five goals and six assists recorded in the previous term.

So, can Lopez help lead San Jose to better days to turn their season around and to a second straight postseason appearance? Earthquakes second-year head coach Luchi Gonzalez certainly thinks so.

"Hernan is an extremely gifted player that we've been targeting, so we're really looking forward to bringing him aboard and having him make a creative impact in our midfield. His technical skill, vision, and ability to both finish and create for others will add another dynamic to our attack," said Gonzalez.

Only time will tell if San Jose's investment in Lopez will pay off, but they've at minimum added another player for Gonzalez to deploy in the attack. It looks like it might be a rebuild process for the Earthquakes, and the addition of Lopez is without a doubt a step in the right direction, and don't be shocked to see San Jose pick up a few results here and there with their new midfielder to lift themselves off the basement of the Western Conference.