Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between San Jose Earthquakes and FC Cincinnati, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
San Jose Earthquakes will be looking to end a run of five matches without a victory when they welcome FC Cincinnati to PayPal Park on Sunday.
The away side, meanwhile, head to California aiming to get back to winning ways having seen their run of seven straight wins come to an end last time out.
Match preview
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San Jose Earthquakes were on the receiving end of a comprehensive 5-1 thrashing against New York City FC at the Yankee Stadium on June 1.
After going behind to Hannes Wolf‘s opener, Luchi Gonzalez‘s men hit back through Amahl Pellegrino after which Santiago Rodriguez‘s strike and an Alonso Martinez hat-trick sealed the deal.
As a result, the Goonies remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference in the MLS table and are already 10 points adrift of playoff contention.
Next up is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides over the previous two meetings which have yielded one win apiece.
Currently with the joint-worst attacking record in home matches this term, Sunday’s hosts will need to get going at the top end of the pitch if they are to remedy what has undoubtedly been a poor start to the campaign.
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FC Cincinnati suffered a first league defeat since mid-April following 2-0 loss against Nashville SC at the TQL Stadium in Ohio on May 30.
First-half strikes from Jack Maher and Jacob Shaffelburg left Pat Noonan‘s men with a mountain to climb at half time after which they failed to find the back of the net despite dominating the second period.
With 33 points picked up from 16 matches this term, The Knifey Lions sit second in the Eastern Conference standings, two points behind leaders Inter Miami, albeit having played two games fewer.
Off the back of four straight away victories leading up to this weekend, Sunday’s visitors will fancy their chances of getting the job done on enemy territory once again.
San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer form:
FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
Team News
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Cincinnati’s Yuya Kubo is set to sit out a third consecutive game through injury, while Corey Baird continues his spell on the sidelines.
The away side will also be without the services of Gabon international Aaron Boupendza who remains without an appearance since the final week of April.
Twenty-seven-year-old JT Marcinkowski is still nursing a knee problem which rules out of contention for San Jose Earthquakes this weekend.
Daniel and Jamar Ricketts are also guaranteed absentees for the hosts but Bruno Valdez could be fit enough to start here after coming off with an injury scare last time out.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Marie, Valdez, Rodrigues, Beason; Tsakiris, Yueill; Pellegrino, Lopez, Espinoza; Ebobisse
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Robinson; Yedlin, Bucha, Nwobodo, Orellano; Acosta, Kelsy, Valenzuela
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 1-2 FC Cincinnati
Given their respective league positions, it sounds inconceivable that San Jose have scored more goals than Cincinnati this term but the former have struggled massively at the back. We expect an open and end-to-end clash here with the visitors narrowly edging out their hosts to claim all three points in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.