July 10, 2014: San Jose Earthquakes forward Quincy Amarikwa (25) looks to pass during a Major League Soccer match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Houston Dynamo at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, USA. The Houston Dynamo won 2-0.
With the MLS season in its final third, the push for the playoffs ramps up as the San Jose Earthquakes travel to Houston to take on the Dynamo. The 8th place Dynamo sit 4 points out of the 6th and final playoff spot and the 9th place Quakes are a further 2 points back as both teams know they can’t afford to drop any more points if they want to make the postseason. The season series has seen the road team win both matches as the Quakes look to win the final meeting of the year and vault into playoff contention.
The big news for San Jose as the transfer window closed was the signing of Panamanian defensive midfielder Anibal Godoy on Thursday. The fact that he hasn’t had time for training sessions with the team yet should make it unlikely he’ll see the field and likely that the lineup will see minimal changes from the 0-0 draw against Portland.
The attack should be the least of the Quakes worries as they have scored more goals on the road than at home. The road struggles have come from the defense who, while managing to allow only 6 goals at home, have given up 21 goals on the road. The back line will have to find a way to limit their mistakes and find the same form they manage at home. Communication has to be a priority for the back line as they are sure to be busy with Will Bruin and Erick “Cubo” Torres who came on in place of Bruin last week.
Houston has had no problems scoring at home this season as 20 of their 28 were scored at BBVA Compass Stadium and adding Cubo Torres to the squad just adds to the danger. Now that Torres has had time to train with the Dynamo it would be surprising to see him start the game on the bench. Playing both Torres and Bruin up top together would help keep the San Jose defense on their heels and force them into the same mistakes that have plagued the squad all year.
Quincy Amarikwa has already scored 3 goals in 4 games for San Jose since joining the club in early July and all of his goals have come on the road. Amarikwa will be the key to San Jose’s attack in Houston as he looks to continue his road form. With Matias Perez Garcia still battling a leg injury and Chris Wondolowski only scoring 1 goal in his last 8 games and zero in his last 5, Amarikwa could be the only goal scorer for San Jose. He’ll need help from Shea Salinas out wide and Wondo in the midfield but there seems to be very few options as of late for the Quakes.
The game will be broadcast from BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas at 6 pm PDT Saturday, August 8th on CSN-CA in San Jose and ROOT Sports SW in Houston.
