The San Jose Earthquakes are coming off a pretty good weekend, and never even featured in a MLS game.
Looking around the rest of the Western Conference, the Earthquakes’ playoff push was aided by losses from the Portland Timbers (3-1 at FC Dallas), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1-0 vs. New York Red Bulls) and Colorado Rapids (2-0 at New England Revolution). In fact, the only game that featured a WC team that didn’t go the way San Jose would have preferred was the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 win over Columbus.
Heading into this weekend, the Quakes have a golden opportunity to capitalize on the missed chances by other Western Conference teams. A win over Seattle would not only create separation between themselves and Sounders FC, but could also be enough to jump Portland and put the pressure on Sporting Kansas City.
Western Conference Standings
- FC Dallas – 51 (28 GP, 15-7-6)
- Real Salt Lake – 43 (27 GP, 12-8-7)
- Colorado Rapids – 43 (26 GP, 11-5-10)
- LA Galaxy – 43 (27 GP, 10-4-13)
- Sporting Kansas City – 38 (28 GP, 11-12-5)
- Portland Timbers – 35 (28 GP, 9-11-8)
- San Jose Earthquakes – 32 (26 GP, 7-8-11)
- Seattle Sounders FC – 31 (26 GP, 9-13-4)
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 31 (28 GP, 8-13-7)
- Houston Dynamo – 25 (26 GP, 5-11-10)
Wednesday, September 7
LA Galaxy at Real Salt Lake – 6:30 p.m. PT
Best-case scenario:
The Galaxy and Real Salt Lake play to a draw. With both teams currently on 43 points, a draw is the best result for teams below them in the standings.
Reasons for optimism:
LA is one of the league’s best road teams (3-4-6), taking points in nine of their 13 road games to date, but Real Salt Lake remains undefeated at home (8-0-5).
Friday, September 9
Houston Dynamo at Sporting Kansas City – 5:00 p.m. PT
Best-case scenario:
Houston takes three points from Sporting KC. While the Dynamo can still make a late run, any late-season relevance would likely mean San Jose tripped up along the way anyway. Sporting’s results are much more meaningful to the Quakes right now.
Reasons for optimism:
Well, not much. Kansas City has won each of their last six home games and Houston’s 1-9-3 road record doesn’t suggest they will control the flow of the match. A draw may be the more likely scenario, which would still be a good result for San Jose in the grand scheme of things.
Saturday, September 10
Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Columbus Crew SC – 3:00 p.m. PT
Best-case scenario:
Columbus defeats Vancouver, keeping San Jose above Whitecaps FC in the standings with three games in hand heading into their contest with Seattle later that night.
Reasons for optimism:
Even though Vancouver has three road wins this season, they also have nine road losses, second most in Major League Soccer (Chicago – 10).
Colorado Rapids at FC Dallas – 6:00 p.m. PT
Best-case scenario:
FC Dallas defeats Colorado.
Reasons for optimism:
Dallas has been downright on fire of late, posting a 7-1-2 record in their last 10 matches. Meanwhile, Colorado, who was once the league’s best team, is now winless in their last four and 1-3-3 in their last seven.
Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers – 7:30 p.m. PT
Best-case scenario:
Real Salt Lake defeats Portland, opening the door for the Quakes to move above the red line.
Reasons for optimism:
The Timbers and RSL seem to be trending in opposite directions. Portland has lost three of their last four matches, while RSL has won four of their last six. Although to be fair, all of Portland’s recent losses have come on the road and they have proved to be much more dangerous on home turf.
Sunday, September 11
Orlando City SC at LA Galaxy – 4:00 p.m. PT
Best-case scenario:
Orlando City SC earns all three points against the LA Galaxy.
Reasons for optimism:
As lopsided as the matchup seems when comparing LA’s home record to Orlando’s road record, the Galaxy have won just once in their last seven games and the Lions have drawn each of their last four on the road. Also, LA will be playing on a short week after Wednesday’s bout with RSL in Sandy, Utah. Seeing this one come to an end without a winner wouldn’t be the most surprising result of the weekend.
