San Jose, CA – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Philadelphia Union, at Avaya Stadium, August 19, 2017.
By: Steven Whisler of The Philly Soccer Page (You can check out the story from their original post here).
Who: Philadelphia Union (7th place, 4 points, 1-1-1) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (10th place, 3 points, 1-2-0)
What: 2018 regular season game
Where: Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
When: Saturday, April 7, 7:00 p.m.
Watch: PHL 17, MLS Live, NBC Sports California
Whistle:
Philadelphia Union are eager to post their first win since opening day versus San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium. The Union have not only not won since their first game – they haven’t scored either and actually have yet to score against an 11-man squad. Against a dynamic but undisciplined team like San Jose, the Union must find a way to create through the midfield and break the scoring drought.
Scouting report: San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose began the year with a bang by drubbing Minnesota United at home before losing their last two games to Sporting KC and New York City FC, respectively.
Under new head coach Mikael Stahre from Sweden, the Quakes have been plenty capable of scoring goals, but just as happy to concede them too. While San Jose’s attack is superbly juiced to rush up the field, their defenders have a terrible habit of sitting back and not closing out the ball. And it’s led to some absolute bangers beyond the 18 from Kevin Molino and Graham Zusi.
On the other side of the field, the Union will be focused on Vako Qazaishvili, the talented Georgian midfielder who spends much of the game playing like a third striker, while MLS all-timer Chris Wondolowski lurks like a poacher on the backside.
- Injury report: None
- Suspended: None
Scouting report: Philadelphia Union
The Union gave up their first goal of the season – and then let in two more – to the usually docile Colorado Rapids attack. Some were thanks to mental errors or unlucky deflections, but against the quick and dynamic San Jose attack, the Union must be disciplined and keep their shape. It will be an interesting chess match between Jim Curtin and Stahre to see how the Union counterpress versus a Quakes team ready to run behind the defense.
The real storyline, though, is the Union’s lack of scoring opportunities. They’re not just missing shots. They’re not even taking them. As Adam Cann once again brilliantly noted in his game breakdown, the Union have been poor at exploiting mismatches in the midfield and slow to respond to finding space in the final third of the field.
New signing Borek Dockal must be better at getting on the ball and finding his teammates – namely, David Accam. With Dockal benign so far in his MLS career, teams have been able to key in on Accam and take him out of the game and, with him, the Union’s whole attack. The reintroduction of Fafa Picault fresh off his three-game suspension should open up the field more, but it will be on Dockal to create those scoring chances.
- Injury report: D- Richie Marquez (sports hernia); D – Fabinho (meniscus)
- Suspended: None
Key matchup
Nick Lima vs. David Accam
Both Columbus and Colorado were able to bottle up the lightning that is David Accam. San Jose surely took notes for how the two sides were able to double (and triple) team Philly’s big offseason acquisition without being punished. Lima is a formidable foe and a talented two-way player. If the Union win this game, it’s because Accam got the better of the San Jose right back.
Player to watch
Fafa Picault
The Union’s right wing has been… not great in 2018. With plenty of miscommunication, crowding from Dockal and Alejandro Bedoya, or poor play from Fabian Herbers, the job will be handed back to Fafa Picault on Saturday. Union fans will finally be able to see how the team’s two speedy wingers challenge backlines together. It will be for naught, though, if no one can get them the ball.
Prediction: Philadelphia 2-1 San Jose
San Jose, like the Union, are still figuring things out. Philadelphia’s team defense has been stout, but were challenged by Colorado’s MLS 1.0 offense. While San Jose is a much more tactical and composed team, they do like to stretch defenses and the Union’s young backline must be tuned in for 90 minutes. San Jose’s defense, however, has been absolutely exploitable in three games this season, and there should be space for the Union midfield to finally pick out some dangerous passes for the team’s front line. A tap-in from C.J. and Accam’s first goal in blue should see the Union through to three points.
Philadelphia Union
San Jose Earthquakes
