After a routing 4-0 win against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Columbus Crew are heading to the west coast in their first road trip of the 2022 MLS season. Miguel Berry, Derrick Etienne Jr, Luis Diaz and Lucas Zelarayan all got their name on the score sheet to help Columbus pick up where they left off last year.
“I thought we came out with passion and intensity, but it was in a controlled way,” said Head coach Caleb Porter after the win. “It felt good to get four goals. I think we should’ve went for more.”
It certainly looked as though the Crew were going for more goals after the Whitecaps had to end the match with 10-men. But that same intensity as Porter said, would need to show up at all times.
Crew vs San Jose
For the first time since 2019, the Crew and Earthquakes will meet. The last outing saw both teams play to a draw 1-1 at then Avaya Stadium. Gyasi Zardes and Magnus Eriksson both tallied goals for their respective clubs. The Crew will travel to PayPal Park, hoping to catch the Earthquakes off guard as the home side enter this matchup coming off of a 3-1 home loss to the New York Red Bulls.
San Jose are unbeaten in their last seven straight home games against the Black & Gold (W4 D3). This dates back to a 3-0 loss in August of 2009. This run is the longest active home unbeaten run against any single opponent.
For Columbus, they have won their last four matches going back to the end of the 2021 season. If the Crew were to win on Saturday, this will mark their fifth straight win. The only other time the Crew won their last five came in 2020 which ended up seeing Columbus lift the MLS Cup on their home field with a 3-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.
Team news
San Jose
Defender Nathan will be sidelined up to two months after undergoing successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The injury came in the first half of the season opener for the Quakes against the Red Bulls. Nathan made 20 starts in his debut season for San Jose last year scoring two goals.
Columbus
The Black & Gold are still without Josh Williams (quad), Kevin Molino (right knee) and Jake Morris (right foot), for this match.
“Win the game, that’s always our approach.” – Caleb Porter
Head-to-head
The series record between the two teams shows the Crew having the upperhand against their MLS original counterpart with a record of 22-8-17 (W-T-L).
