The San Jose Earthquakes’ USL affiliate Reno 1868 FC can clinch a playoff spot tonight when the team travels to Portland, Oregon. The team will look to extend their unbeaten streak to five games.
Reno, currently in sixth place in the USL’s Western Conference with a 14-7-10 record, can lock up a postseason berth for the second consecutive year with a win/draw in any of their remaining games or any loss/draw by San Antonio FC. Reno is the top team in the conference that has yet to clinch a spot.
With three games remaining, Reno can finish with as many as 61 points and anywhere from third to ninth place in the wild West. Portland – Saturday’s opponent – sits one spot ahead of 1868 FC in the standings, despite being level on points and having played one more match. Should they finish top-four, they would host a conference quarterfinal at Greater Nevada Field.
It won’t be easy, however, as all three remaining games are against teams currently in the West’s top-five, including first-place Orange County SC and second-place Phoenix Rising FC.
“We just have to play the way we’re playing and we’re going to get points,” Reno head coach Ian Russell said through an article on the team’s website. “We’re playing good soccer and we’ll continue to play good soccer for the rest of the season.”
Several Quakes’ First Team players are expected to be available for Reno tonight, including goalkeeper Matt Bersano, midfielder Chris Wehan and forward Mo Thiaw. Forward Danny Musovski is out with a lower body injury.
