Ahead of Saturday's trip to San Jose, SportingKC.com caught up with Center Line Soccer's Robert Jonas to preview #SJvSKC. Live coverage of Saturday's match (8:00 p.m. CT) is available on FOX Sports KC, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB, and La Grande 1340 AM. Check out MatchDay Central for complete online coverage.
San Jose advanced with a 2-0 win in Open Cup play on Wednesday. How strong of a lineup did they field for the match and what are you expecting to see from the Starting XI for Saturday? Are there any injury concerns?
Due to injuries and absences from international duty, the Quakes roster was rather thin heading into this week, and head coach Dominic Kinnear put out a line-up for their Open Cup clash with the San Francisco Deltas that could have easily been confused for that for a regular MLS game. Designated players Chris Wondolowski and Simon Dawkins, first half of the season MVP Florian Jungwirth, and dynamic homegrown players Tommy Thompson and Nick Lima featured on the night. There could be some tired legs for those Quakes that get the call Saturday night, to be sure. And one, Jungwirth, who has been a mainstay in central defense all season, suffered a serious ankle injury and will miss the match against Sporting Kansas City. It was an comprehensive win against the Deltas, and it means the Quakes are four wins away from a trophy, but it did come at a cost to their MLS campaign.
What’s the Earthquakes’ form heading into this match?
The Open Cup victory will provide some good feelings, but the Quakes league record is lagging. Two straight loses -- to rivals LA Galaxy at home and to Portland Timbers away -- dropped San Jose below the red line in the Western Conference. In fact, looking back at the three years Kinnear has been back in charge of the Quakes, 2017 ranks as the worst 15-game start to a season in that span. The defense has been consistent, but the offense is still not finishing its opportunities at a pace that would have San Jose miss the postseason for the fifth straight season. At Avaya Stadium, the Earthquakes have made it tough on opponents through disciplined pressing play and a discernible home crowd advantage. The loss to LA a few weeks back was the Quakes first in San Jose since the end of last season; the players will be looking to start a new unbeaten streak Saturday night.
Who are some San Jose players to watch?
If you are a defender, you should be watching Wondolowski, as his Energizer bunny routine is going on eight seasons now -- the last seven seasons with double digits goals. However, it is a pair of newcomers that could be the difference makers: midfielder Jahmir Hyka of Albania and forward Danny Hoesen of the Netherlands. Both off-season acquisitions have excited the crowds at Avaya Stadium with their technical skill and goal scoring exploits, and neither is afraid to take the ball right at opponents. Add in the youthful energy of Thompson, who is still searching for his first MLS goal, but seems to get closer to scoring with every appearance, and the Quakes are showing a more dynamic attacking game than they have for many seasons.
San Jose are 3-1-3 at home in league play. How would you assess their performance this season at Avaya Stadium?
Two of the three victories came at the start of the season, and both were against opponents playing with 10 men, so the record is a bit deceiving. The three draws are more worrisome for a team hoping to break a long playoffs drought, and two of those required some late-game heroics. Still, the team definitely is lifted by the Avaya Stadium atmosphere, and with Sporting KC coming in as the best in the West, the Quakes will play with more urgency. In their Open Cup win, the Earthquakes dictated every aspect of the game from the opening whistle and were 2-0 up inside of 10 minutes. It won't be as one-sided Saturday night, without a doubt, but there will be a hunger to take control of the match early. The loss to the Galaxy three weeks ago took some of the wind out of their sails, but Kinnear and company will be motivated to right the ship and start a new unbeaten streak at Avaya Stadium.
What will be the keys to the match for San Jose and what match-ups are you looking forward to watching against Sporting KC
When the Quakes play consistent team defense, they are nearly impossible to break down. But that doesn't mean San Jose will bunker and counterattack. On the contrary, the goal is to force turnovers and exploit the sidelines to get the ball quickly up the field. With Hyka setting terms on one side of the pitch and Thompson on the other, the Quakes will also bring their fullbacks Lima and Cordell Cato into the fray in an attempt to stretch the Sporting KC defense. San Jose still relies on crossing passes to generate many of their scoring chances, so avoiding former Quakes center back Ike Opara will be of utmost importance. Opara never quite played up to his potential in his time with San Jose, but he is a difference maker now, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him look to show up his former team. Benny Feilhaber, who scored a stunning goal against the Earthquakes earlier this season, always seems to give San Jose fits as well, so he'll have to be contained for the home side to walk away with a win. Add in the exceptional goalkeeping from both sides -- David Bingham for the hosts and Tim Melia for the visitors -- and it could be quite a tense match Saturday night.
