Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Major League Soccer clash between San Jose Earthquakes and Dallas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Now in the last chance saloon to secure a place in the 2024 MLS playoffs, Dallas head to PayPal Park on Thursday to face off against San Jose Earthquakes.
Both teams came away empty-handed last time out as the hosts fell to a 3-0 defeat against CF Montreal, while their visitors were on the receiving end of a 3-1 loss at the hands of Orlando City.
Match preview
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It was a familiar feeling of defeat amongst large sections of the visiting San Jose Earthquakes faithful as Montreal ran out convincing 3-0 winners in Sunday’s meeting at the Saputo Stadium.
Having managed to avoid conceding a first-half goal for the first time in six matches, Ian Russell‘s men gave themselves a huge shot at securing a positive result before a Josef Martinez brace and Caden Clark‘s strike put them to the sword.
Following their 23rd loss from 31 matches this term, the Goonies have now suffered the fourth-most defeats in a Major League Soccer season and are just two shy of Metro Stars’ record of 25, which has stood for over two decades.
San Jose Earthquakes are also three goals away from conceding the most strikes in a campaign (75), while only four teams have ever recorded fewer than their current points tally of 18.
Indeed, it has been a disappointing campaign for the California-based outfit, who now set out in search of what would be only a sixth league victory this term and a second since the middle of July.
If history is anything to go by, Thursday’s hosts could have a hard time getting the better of their visitors as they are yet to come out on top in any of the last seven meetings, albeit with five of them ending in draws.
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Dallas were made to pay dearly for their wasteful finishing in front of goal by a ruthless Orlando City side when the teams squared off against each other at the Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
After deservingly going behind to Ramiro Enrique‘s 18th-minute opener, Peter Luccin‘s men upped the ante in the second half but were caught twice against the run of play by Rodrigo Schlegel and Facundo Torres to put the result beyond doubt.
That defeat has done little to hamper Luccin’s chances of being appointed on a permanent basis thanks to the visible progress made by Dallas since the departure of former boss Nico Estevez.
Now sitting eight points adrift of playoff contention heading into their final three matches, Dallas will need a miracle from here on out if they are to extend their current run of consecutive postseason appearances to three.
With just one victory recorded from their last 11 away involvements across all competitions, Thursday’s visitors could really do with a change in fortune ahead of a must-win encounter on enemy territory.
San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer form:
Dallas Major League Soccer form:
Team News
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San Jose Earthquakes’ Preston Judd, Benjamin Kikanovic and JT Marcinkowski are all unfit to feature here, but fellow American Daniel Munie is available once again.
Bruno Valdez was fit enough to be named among the hosts’ substitutes last time out, but it remains to be seen if the defender will play any part in this one.
Carlos Gruezo will serve a one-game ban here, opening the door for Jackson Yueill to return to the starting lineup off the back of three consecutive cameo appearances.
Geovane Jesus and Paxton Pomykal are both ruled out for Dallas through knee injuries, while Liam Fraser remains a considerable way off making his comeback from a leg injury.
Twenty-five-year-old Show will be pushing for a place in the visitors XI’ after returning to action following a brief spell out with an ankle problem.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Costa, Rodrigues, Munie, Akapo; Tsakiris, Yueill; Pellegrino, Lopez, Espinoza; Ebobisse
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Ibeagha, Gonzalez, Farfan; Ruan, Lletget, Delgado, Arriola; Ferreira, Velasco, Musa
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 1-2 Dallas
The onus will be on Dallas to get the job done and keep their already slim chances of making it through to the playoffs alive.
We are backing the visitors to rise up to expectations by claiming all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.