Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
A pair of sides still seeking their first victories of the 2024 MLS campaign will square off on Saturday as the San Jose Earthquakes welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps to PayPal Park.
The Goonies are pointless after two fixtures, losing their previous encounter 3-1 versus the Los Angeles Galaxy, while the Caps had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC.
Match preview
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It has been a rough opening to the season for the club from Silicon Valley, who are dead last in the Western Conference and the only side out west without a point.
In just two matches this season, Luchi Gonzalez has seen his group concede more goals (five) than they had in their final five encounters in the regular season and playoffs last year (four).
Their defeat to the Galaxy last weekend was the first for them at PayPal Park in the regular season since August 2023 (3-2 against the Los Angeles Galaxy).
Early into the new campaign, they are struggling to create chances while looking particularly susceptible on the back end, like we had seen before Gonzalez arrived.
San Jose have failed to win their last three matches in this competition when scoring the opening goal, including on matchday one when they were beaten 2-1 by Dallas.
The Earthquakes are unbeaten in their last five matches against the Whitecaps in MLS play, coming from behind to win 2-1 at PayPal Park in this exact fixture last year.
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Without their animated and inspirational manager on the sidelines, the Whitecaps looked a little sleepy in their opening game, according to assistant coach Michael D’Agostino.
It will be up to him to try and wake them up in a hurry, as manager Vanni Sartini will be out for another five games after entering the field of play during the MLS Cup playoffs a season ago.
Vancouver failed to win their final four regular season encounters away from home last year, with their last road victory in this competition occurring on September 16, 2023 (2-1 over Toronto).
While this side have some proven quality in the attacking third and great chance creators, that has not been as evident in this competition of late, with the Whitecaps scoring a goal or fewer in five of their last six matches in the regular season or playoffs.
Counting their playoff sweep versus Los Angeles FC last season, the Caps are winless in their previous four games played versus California-based clubs.
They are winless in their last six visits to PayPal Park and have not beaten the Quakes on their home field since the 2018 campaign (3-2).
San Jose Earthquakes form:
Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:
Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):
Team News
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Niko Tsakiris is unlikely to see the field for San Jose this weekend due to a lower-body injury, while JT Marcinkowski is still recovering from knee surgery.
There was just one change to their starting 11 last weekend from their opening fixture, with Amahl Pellegrino coming into the lineup in place of Benji Kikanovic.
Preston Judd had the only goal for the Quakes in their defeat to the Galaxy, while Daniel has conceded five goals in just two MLS encounters.
Bjorn Inge Utvik is questionable for the Caps with a sore knee, Joe Bendik is suffering from back spasms and Ali Ahmed will be questionable because of an injury to his abdomen.
Sam Adekugbe missed the previous Vancouver match with a knee injury, while former captain Russell Teibert officially announced his retirement.
Damir Kreilach made his first regular-season start for Vancouver against Charlotte, playing alongside Brian White and Ryan Gauld in an attacking front three, while Ryan Raposo had their only goal, enabling them to collect a single point.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Akapo, Rodrigues, Beason, Marie; Yueill, Gruezo, Kikanovic; Espinoza, Ebobisse, Bouda
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Brown, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Raposo; Schopf, Cubas; Kreilach, Gauld, Vite; White
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
It usually takes the Caps a few games to get settled every season, and we believe the Quakes attacking pieces will be able to take advantage of a Vancouver side who may be more fatigued having competed in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) before the start of the MLS campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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