The San Jose Earthquakes are back in Texas this coming weekend to face Austin FC on Saturday night in an important match to keep the Black and Blue in the thick of the Western Conference race.
Kickoff from Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, 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).
Despite star attacker Timo Werner sidelined with a lower body injury, the Quakes shut down a red-hot Houston Dynamo team last Saturday night on the road at Shell Energy Stadium to earn a point in a 0-0 draw, snapping a four-game losing streak for San Jose and keeping them in fourth place.
The Earthquakes returned to their early-season form on defense, tying a club record by keeping the Dynamo from taking a single shot on goal. With Head Coach Bruce Arena electing to play with three center backs and two wing backs for the first time all season, Houston was unable to muster any meaningful barrages over 90 minutes. While San Jose was unable to find the breakthrough in their attacking end, they had the edge in possession and created enough chances to score but without the benefit of the end product.
Newly acquired Eduard Löwen made his anticipated debut for San Jose and was a crucial piece in stabilizing the midfield. He also had a long-range shot on goal that forced a diving save out of goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
In the other net, midseason acquisition Angus Gunn secured his first clean sheet with the Earthquakes and the team’s first shutout since a 3-0 home win over San Diego FC on April 4.
This Saturday, the Black and Blue hit the road again looking for their seventh win away from home. San Jose is currently second in MLS in road wins (6), trailing only Inter Miami CF (8).
The Quakes hope to replicate their first matchup this season with Austin on April 22. In their last meeting, the Quakes erased an early deficit and exploded for five unanswered goals in the second half, highlighted by Paul Marie’s record-setting three assists in just 5:28 after coming on as a substitute. Jack Jasinski, Timo Werner, Ousseni Bouda and Preston Judd (2) netted for San Jose in the 5-1 win.
Meanwhile, Austin FC enters the match at 14th place in the Western Conference with a record of 6-10-6 but has played well since the World Cup break. During this span, Verde is 3-3-1 in league play and advanced all the way to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Last Saturday, Austin traveled to Portland and stunned the Timbers with a game-winning goal in stoppage time from Oleksandr Svatok to come away with a 2-1 win. Despite their early-seasonstruggles, they also find themselves just five points out of a playoff spot under Interim Head Coach Davy Arnaud, who replaced Nico Estevez on May 18. Austin’s attack has hinged on forward Myrto Uzuni (6g/5a) and winger Facundo Torres, Orlando City’s all-time leading scorer whom Verde acquired from Palmeiras in the offseason (3g/6a). Striker Cristian Ramirez, who has a long history in MLS, has added five goals.
With the Quakes rediscovering their form defensively, can they put together a complete game on both ends of the ball and earn all three points in a hostile Q2 Stadium? The Black and Blue will need to bring their A-game if they want to surge back up the Western Conference table.
