The prodigal son returns home on Saturday as San Jose Earthquakes homegrown winger Cade Cowell will make his first appearance back in the Bay Area since leaving his childhood club for Chivas de Guadalajara in January.
As a result, the match has been moved from the Earthquakes’ PayPal Park for the higher-capacity Levi’s Stadium — home of the NFL’s San Franciso 49ers — in anticipation of a Leagues Cup record attendance.
Despite a slow start to his new life in Guadalajara, Cowell has snapped into form to start the LIGA MX Apertura campaign with three goals and an assist in the first four matches of the season. Notably, Cowell had an identical stat line in last season’s Concacaf Champions Cup — a trend he aims to continue in another international tournament to earn his team a spot back in the CCC in 2025. The Earthquakes academy product’s familiarity with the surroundings in San Jose should serve as a further catalyst in what promises to be an emotional affair.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández will also be making his first return to California after leaving LA Galaxy — the third team in West 3 that Chivas will face next Sunday in Los Angeles. Opposite of Cowell, the Mexican legend has returned to his boyhood club after joining the Chivas academy as a nine-year-old before an illustrious career including stops at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The 36-year-old striker is set to lead the line for his hometown club against his former in-state rival from his days as a Galaxy player.
Standing in Chivas’ way is a struggling San Jose Earthquakes team led by interim manager Ian Russell, who occupies the bottom of the MLS table. Despite the team’s recent form, the Quakes possess creativity in droves with 2023 MLS All-Star Cristian Espinoza and recent club-record signing Hernán López — great-nephew of Argentinian legend Diego Maradona.
It will all come to a head in a special edition of MLS vs. LIGA MX rivalry in front of a potential record attendance. Will Cowell produce a dream homecoming for himself or will the Earthquakes spoil the party for their former star?
