MATCH PREVIEW: Quakes head into road test vs. St. Louis CITY SC on top of Western Conference

The San Jose Earthquakes are back on the road to face St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday night. Kickoff from Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri, is set for 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally via Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish). 

The Quakes rallied from an early 1-0 deficit by erupting for five second-half goals to beat Austin FC 5–1 at PayPal Park on Wednesday night. San Jose not only improved to 8-1-0 in MLS regular-season play for the first time in club history, they moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings for the first time in 14 years. 

After scoring nine goals in the last two games—all in the second half—the Black and Blue attack shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. With Jack Jasinski scoring his first career goal and Paul Marie recording a trio of assists against Austin in MLS-record speed, the team now has nine different goalscorers in 2026 and 10 players who have registered at least one assist. Timo Werner’s two goal contributions (1g/1a) and Preston Judd’s brace also earned them Team of the Matchday honors alongside Marie. 

On the other side of the ball, across nine MLS starts in 2026, goalkeeper Daniel has posted five clean sheets and allowed only one goal in each of the other four appearances, resulting in a stellar 0.44 goals-against average on the season. Against Austin, he made a brilliant save in a one-on-one situation with Joseph Rosales to keep San Jose in the game. The back line of Jamar Ricketts, Reid Roberts, Daniel Munie and Jasinski helped the Brazilian shot-stopper shut out Austin for the remainder of the match. 

The parade of stats continues to make new believers. Collectively, the Quakes are tied for first in MLS with 22 goals, while leading the league in assists (27), expected goals (27.14), accurate long balls (39) and corner kicks won (59); they also rank tied for second in goals allowed (4) and second in clean sheets (5).  

The Black and Blue have also won their first four road games this season, just one away from tying the MLS record of five set in 2022 by Red Bull New York. They will have to do it in the unfriendly confines of Energizer Park against a team they have never even taken points from in six tries (0-6-0). 

St. Louis enters the match at 1-4-3 and 14th in the West after falling on the road to Seattle Sounders FC last Saturday, 4-1. The team’s current leading scorer is German midfielder and Designated Player Marcel Hartel, with two goals on the season, while Daniel Edelman has become a playmaker with three assists. They also boast one of the best goalkeepers of the league, Roman Bürki, who made one of the saves of the MLS season to preserve a win over San Jose last year at PayPal Park. 

The road trip to St. Louis will be a homecoming for Quakes defenders Daniel Munie (Maryland Heights, Mo.) and Max Floriani (Saint Louis University alumnus), along with Assistant Coach Steve Ralston (Oakville, Mo.), who all have connections with the area. 

Although the Quakes are riding a unprecedented wave of momentum and continue to rewrite the record book, they cannot afford to take St. Louis lightly, especially given their history in the all-time series. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and with San Jose finally on top of the table, they should expect CITY SC’s best shot Saturday.