With Sporting KC returning to MLS play on Saturday evening to host the San Jose Earthquakes, we caught up with MLSsoccer.com's Geoff Lepper to preview the match. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT with live coverage available on KMCI-TV, SKCTV and 102.9 FM.
JF: San Jose, like Sporting KC, are coming off a midweek match in the CONCACAF Champions League. How do you expect the short turnaround and travel to impact the team and what squad Mark Watson selects to start on Saturday?
GL: This will be the Quakes’ fourth match in all competitions since March 10, and the minutes are starting to pile up for some guys in high-effort positions. Cordell Cato and Shea Salinas have both played all 300 minutes, with Sam Cronin (283) and Steven Lenhart (269) not far behind. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Quakes try to bring one or even two of that group off the bench, although it’s hard to rest any of them because they’re so influential to what San Jose is trying to do.
JF:The Earthquakes were an improved side under Watson last year and narrowly missed out on making the playoffs. What changes has he brought to the team (style of play, philosophy) that's been key to their improved play?
GL:The biggest change San Jose underwent with Watson was a recommitment to defending. Obviously, part of that involved personnel decisions -- signing Jordan Stewart and adding U.S. international Clarence Goodson, whose MLS rights the Quakes had held since 2008. But there also was a firming up that went beyond the simple additions and gave the Quakes confidence that if they could poach a goal or two, the back line plus Jon Busch in goal would make it stand up.
JF: San Jose had to deal with several injuries last season and players missing due to international duty. What's the status of the roster (injuries and changeover in the offseason) and is this team in a much better place to this year to make a run into the MLS Cup playoffs?
GL:The injury situation is fairly extensive. San Jose was forced to use Ty Harden -- playing his first competitive match in more than 11 months due to hip surgery -- and rookie midfielder JJ Koval as their center-back pairing in Toluca on Wednesday. They’ll get back Honduran international Victor Bernardez, but there’s still plenty of faces missing. Stewart is out, as is center back possibility Jason Hernandez. Goodson is questionable at center back, as is right back Brandon Barklage.
Even with all those problems, the Quakes are still unbeaten in all competitions and were one arguable Alan Gordon offsides call away from being the first MLS team ever to knock out a Liga MX opponent in Mexico during CCL play. Adding players such as Barklage, Koval, Yannick Djalo, Atiba Harris, Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi and Billy Schuler have given the Quakes more usable depth than they had last season -- which should help them avoid a first-half meltdown like the one which cost them a playoff spot last season.
JF: What are your thoughts on Sporting KC and how they matchup against San Jose?
GL: First off, they’re the defending champions, so this will always be a game opponents get up for. In terms of the specific matchup against San Jose, I think if Aurelien Collin and Matt Besler both play, their strength and athleticism in the air helps Sporting KC negate the Quakes’ typical advantage in set-piece play through Bernardez, Gordon, Lenhart and the like.
And that’s a huge part of San Jose’s offense to this point; of the Quakes’ five goals in all competitions this year, four have come off free or corner kicks. The fifth was generated from a knocked-down 40-yard cross … after San Jose took possession of a half-cleared corner kick.
JF: Finally, what are you expecting to see from Saturday's match at Sporting Park?
GL: Honestly, two pretty tired teams. Given the CCL schedule and the fact that there’s been a combined total of only seven goals in the last four meetings of these clubs, it may be a first-goal-wins kind of situation.
