San Jose Earthquakes Sj vs Sporting Kansas City Kc Picks and Predictions July 13th 2024

Earthquakes Eye Rare Win Streak vs. Sporting KC

Match Overview

The San Jose Earthquakes plan to secure consecutive victories interestingly this season as they host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. The two teams occupy the lower end of the Western Conference standings, with San Jose (4-16-2, 14 points) at the base and Sporting KC (5-3-5, 20 points) just one slot above them.

San Jose Earthquakes’ Recent Performance

The Earthquakes, under in-between time boss Ian Russell, have shown signs of progress following the dismissal of supervisor Luchi Gonzalez. In the wake of losing the first two matches post-Gonzalez, Russell switched to a three-focus back development, prompting a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire last Sunday.

Hernan Lopez scored the solitary objective four minutes after halftime, set up by Cristian Espinoza. Goalkeeper William Yarbrough, alongside his defense, secured their first perfect sheet of the season.

“We’re all getting used to kind of a new system,” Russell said. “I was super proud of the guys for grasping the concepts in really only a day. To go out and get a result in a new system, I was very happy with that.”

Despite this victory, San Jose’s defense remains the worst in MLS, having allowed 56 goals. They are on pace to concede 86, which would break the previous MLS record of 75 goals allowed by FC Cincinnati in 2019.

Sporting Kansas City’s Challenges

Sporting KC has also struggled defensively, surrendering 48 goals, the second most in the league. They have lost eight consecutive away games and have permitted at least two goals in six straight away matches since mid-May.

Besides, Kansas City faces a quick turnaround after a grueling 2-1 extra-time triumph over FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night.

“I can’t bury a bunch of guys,” manager Peter Vermes said. ” … We’ll have some challenges we’ll have to deal with, but we’ll have to deal with that on Saturday morning to start really talking about the inventory of where the players are.”

Dany Rosero scored the winner in the 111th minute, securing Sporting KC’s second win in four days over Dallas after a 3-2 league victory last Sunday. William Agada, who leads SKC with seven league goals, also scored the opener in the Open Cup quarterfinal.

Key Players to Watch

San Jose Earthquakes

• Hernan Lopez: Scored the decisive goal against Chicago Fire and will look to continue his form.
• Cristian Espinoza: Provided the assist for Lopez’s goal, and his playmaking will be crucial.
• William Yarbrough: Secured the first clean sheet of the season and needs to maintain solid performances.

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Sporting Kansas City

• William Agada: Leads the team with seven league goals and scored in the recent Open Cup quarterfinal.
• Dany Rosero: Scored the extra-time winner in the Open Cup and will be pivotal in defense.
• Peter Vermes: Will need to manage player fatigue and field a competitive lineup despite the recent intensive schedule.

Conclusion

As the San Jose Earthquakes look to build on their recent win and Sporting Kansas City aims to overcome fatigue and away game struggles, Saturday’s match promises to be a critical encounter for both teams. With both sides having shaky defenses and the potential for fatigue affecting SKC, the match could provide opportunities for a high-scoring and competitive game. Fans will be watching closely to see if San Jose can break their streak and if Kansas City can find stability on the road.