Preview: Houston Dynamo at San Jose Earthquakes

DL_041418_SJvHOU_matchup

The Basics


Houston Dynamo at San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, April 14, 2018, 9:30 p.m. CT
Avaya Stadium, San Jose, California


Broadcast Information


KUBE 57 – 9:00 p.m. (CHANNEL LISTINGS)
MLS LIVE on ESPN+ – 9:30 p.m. (Free 30-day trial!)
SportsRadio 610 AM/Radio.com app – 9:00 p.m.
Univision Radio 1010 AM – 9:00 p.m.


Preview


Two Western Conference rivals who won in Week 1 – and haven’t earned three points since – meet up at Avaya Stadium, with the San Jose Earthquakes coming off a 1-1 draw at Philadelphia, while the Houston Dynamo return from a bye in Week 6.



San Jose Earthquakes   


The Quakes (1-2-1) snapped a two-game losing streak, but settled for a 1-1 draw with the Union. Magnus Eriksson put San Jose in front in the 37th minute, but Alejandro Bedoya stuck in the 64th minute to equalize for the hosts.


“It was a great feeling, a good goal, unfortunately not good enough to win the game,” Eriksson said. “But it was a great experience.”


Deep into second-half stoppage time, Harold Cummings was given a red card for violent conduct after Video Review and he’ll be suspended for Saturday night’s showdown with the Dynamo.


  • Suspended: D - Harold Cummings
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None
  • Injury Report: None


Projected Starting XI
(4-4–2, right to left)
GK: Tarbell — Nick Lima, Yeferson Quintana, Jimmy Ockford, Joel Qwiberg — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Vako — Chris Wondolowski, Danny Hoesen


  • Notes: Vako Qazaishvili enters this weekend as one of eight MLS players with multiple goals and assists. … Since the start of 2017, San Jose has lost just three home games (11W-5D). The Earthquakes have only been held scoreless once over that span.


Houston Dynamo      


Houston (1-2-1) has had a week to digest and process a 2-0 loss to the New England Revolution, the Dynamo’s second defeat of the season at BBVA Compass Stadium, where they were 12-1-4 a year ago.


“This extra week gives us an opportunity to correct that stuff and harp on it and really figure out what the issues are and solve them,” goalkeeper Chris Seitz said. “It gives us extra time to really work out those kinks and get back on the field and be a better version of ourselves.”


Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera has rotated his lineup, especially in the back, and that continues Saturday night with veteran DaMarcus Beasley suspended after being sent off in the 35th minute against the Revs for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.


  • Suspended: D - DaMarcus Beasley
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None
  • Injury Report: OUT:  - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad), D - Philippe Senderos (right hamstring), D - George Malki (left knee sprain), D - Dylan Remick (concussion)


Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Chris Seitz — Adolfo Machado, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Leonardo, Kevin Garcia — Darwin Ceren, Tomas Martinez, Eric Alexander — Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Andrew Wenger


  • Notes: Six of Houston’s seven goals this season have come between the 16th and 45th minutes of matches. Only three other clubs have at least four in that time (San Jose being one of them). … The Dynamo have gotten just one win in their last 20 MLS road games (9L-10D) and have drawn their last three. Only five teams have scored fewer road goals than Houston’s 17 in that time.


All-Time Series


  • Overall: San Jose Earthquakes 8 wins, 24 goals … Houston Dynamo 11 wins, 29 goals … Ties 2
  • At San Jose: Earthquakes 6 wins, 16 goals … Dynamo 4 wins, 11 goals … Ties 1
  • Last meeting at San Jose: San Jose Earthquakes 1, Houston Dynamo 0 (Sept. 16, 2017)


Referees


Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Michael Kampmeinert
4th Official: Daniel Radford
VAR: Tim Ford