The Earthquakes and Galaxy play for the first time since their preseason matchup at Avaya Stadium. Photo credit John Hefti.
After taking down the reigning Supporters’ Shield champions last week, the Quakes return to Stanford Stadium to take on their rivals and last years MLS Cup champions in the California Clasico. They could be running into a freight train in the Galaxy who have won their last 2 matches a combined 10-1. San Jose will need another lights out defensive performance if they want to beat the surging Galaxy in a historical rivalry match where thrilling comebacks are the norm.
San Jose has managed a +3 goal differential at home this season while only managing to score 6 goals. The defense has done well all year behind the home crowd, frustrating opponents and limiting chances. They’ll be hoping to ride the home crowd again as the back 4 should have their hands full with the numerous attacking threats of the Galaxy. The key to defensive success could lie with rookie Fatai Alashe in his defensive midfield role, trying to lock down Sebastian Lletget and Juninho.
The Quakes will also need their offense to pick up the slack and put pressure on the Galaxy to score. Chris Wondolowski has scored 8 of the team’s 16 goals and only Sanna Nyassi has managed to join Wondo with multiple goals. Even Matias Perez Garcia, who has been fantastic throughout the season, only just got his first goal of the season. San Jose will need to take advantage of the Galaxy’s defensive weakness on the road and add to the 15 road goals already given up this year. They’ll need Nyassi and Shea Salinas to stay on the wings and spread the Galaxy and start the counterattack, a tactic that gave San Jose a surprise 2-2 draw in LA last year.
The Galaxy will be hoping to keep Lletget’s four game scoring streak alive when the San Francisco native returns to the Bay Area. Lletget has been a surprise success for LA, filling in the scoring role for Gyasi Zardes while on international duty and Robbie Keane while injured. His success has given him a spot in the squad even after both Zardes and Keane have returned and the Galaxy have clicked right away. Expect the Galaxy offense to try and swarm the Quakes defense and pepper David Bingham with shots to score early and often.
The Galaxy will also be hoping for better luck in the Bay Area as they have found little success in their last 10 regular season matchups when visiting their Northern rivals their only win coming last year at Stanford Stadium. San Jose hopes to continue their home success this season and get all three points as they currently sit just 2 points below Sporting KC for the 6th and final playoff spot in the West.
The match kicks off at 7:30 PDT from Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California and will be broadcast on CSN-CA in San Jose and TWCSN-LA in Los Angeles.
