Matias Almeyda may have considerable experience in the playoffs from his time at Chivas de Guadalajara, but his compatriot and player Cristian Espinoza is entering the playoff gauntlet for the first time.
The San Jose Earthquakes will be playing their first playoff game with Almeyda as head coach and Espinoza will be playing his first career playoff game Sunday, when the Earthquakes take on Sporting Kansas City in the opening round.
While it’s a new experience for Espinoza, the single-elimination format isn’t so different from cup games.
“For me, this will be the first time playing in any kind of playoffs, but I treat this as a final, every game, because the one that wins is the one that gets to move on to the next round,” Espinoza told reporters through an interpreter on Thursday.