Charlotte Fc vs San Jose Earthquakes Picks and Predictions March 22nd 2025

Earthquakes Look to Rebound on the Road Against Charlotte FC

After a blistering start to their season, the San Jose Earthquakes suddenly find themselves in need of a course correction. Back-to-back home losses have dampened early momentum, and now Bruce Arena’s squad will try to regain form as they visit Charlotte FC on Saturday.

San Jose (2-2-0, 6 points) opened the season with a dominant 6-1 aggregate score across two wins but stumbled with a 1-0 loss to Minnesota United followed by a frustrating 2-1 defeat to the Colorado Rapids. Cristian Arango found the back of the net just before halftime to briefly draw level in that match, but the Earthquakes conceded again in the 71st minute and couldn’t recover.

Ready For Better Results? Get Tips From The Expert Betting Guide.

“On the night, we played well enough in this game to come out with at least a point,” said head coach Bruce Arena. “We’re doing well, but we’ve got to be a little bit more consistent. We can’t be jumping for joy at this point.”

Arango, coming off a 17-goal campaign with Real Salt Lake last year, continues to be San Jose’s main attacking threat, already tallying two goals through four matches.

Charlotte FC Finds Confidence in Defensive Grit

Charlotte FC (2-1-1, 7 points) is trending in the opposite direction. The club is riding a wave of confidence after shutting out previously unbeaten FC Cincinnati 2-0 at home. A burst of scoring from Liel Abada and Patrick Agyemang early in the second half sealed the deal, and Charlotte’s defense held firm for its second clean sheet in three games.

“We’ve worked as a team defensively all season… It’s a step up even from where we were three weeks ago,” said head coach Dean Smith. “I thought we got bodies around them really well throughout the game.”

Want Better Results With Your Soccer Bets?

Discover Winning Strategies Now!

Get Free Trial

Charlotte’s defense has been a standout unit, allowing just one goal in their past three matches. Keeper Kristijan Kahlina has led the way with strong performances, including clean sheets against NYCFC and Cincinnati.

The attack has also been well-distributed, with five different players scoring for Charlotte so far this season. Agyemang will miss this weekend’s clash due to national team duty, but Dean Smith’s depth has given him options to maintain the offensive rhythm.

Level Up Your Soccer Wagers—Follow Top-Rated Handicappers Today!
Get the Best Soccer Handicappers

A Key Test of Resilience for San Jose

This road trip presents a key moment for the Earthquakes. Arena’s group has shown flashes of potential, but grinding out points on the road—especially against a disciplined and confident Charlotte side—will be crucial for staying competitive in the early stages of the season.

If you’re eyeing soccer predictions for this Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference clash, get ahead of the action with updated expert soccer picks to help you spot the edge in tightly contested matchups like this one.