The last time the San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City took the same field, a spot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was on the line. Despite that match taking place just seven months ago, much has changed with San Jose.
The Quakes were led by young goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, who to that point was still the team’s backup, but thrived during his free run in the competition. Danny Hoesen was the team’s goal-scoring hero in Open Cup play, but found opportunities few and far between to lead the team’s attack in MLS. Designated Player Vako was still getting his legs under him, having played fewer than 90 total minutes for San Jose since signing from Vitesse.
Those all seem like ages ago. As the team rolls in to Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday, there will be a decidedly different look and feel to the Black and Blue, even without discussing the new faces on the team like Magnus Eriksson, Yeferson Quintana – so on and so forth.
Tarbell is no longer a backup. He’s entrenched in the starting role and is going back to where it all got going for him. His stunning 11-save performance against Sporting, keeping the Quakes alive to penalty kicks, was a major factor in him taking over the role full-time.
Hoesen is no longer an out-of-position winger here on loan. He’s comfortable, energetic, excited, not to mention in terrific form. He has five goals and an assist in his last seven games dating back to last season.
Vako is no longer still settling in after a midseason continent swap. He has nearly 1,000 MLS minutes, has benefitted from a full preseason for the first time and had the best game of his Earthquakes career in Week 1, tallying one goal and two assists while proving to be a threat every time he touched the ball.
San Jose and Sporting Kansas City represent a familiar matchup, but this Saturday will be decidedly unfamiliar at the same time for all the right reasons.
Catch the match live on NBC Sports Bay Area Plus, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. PT.
