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San Jose Earthquakes
Major League Soccer
Jul 31, 2022 at 3am UK
Buck Shaw Stadium
Real Salt Lake

Earthquakes
2 - 2
Salt Lake

Espinoza (12' pen.), Ebobisse (62')
Espinoza (45+2'), Yueill (85'), Covelo (86'), Gregus (90+5')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Loffelsend (21'), Savarino (90+5')
Glad (12'), MacMath (15'), Chang (37'), Savarino (90+6')

Preview: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

San Jose Earthquakes will attempt to offer a positive response to consecutive MLS defeats when they welcome Real Salt Lake to PayPal Park.

While the hosts are 13th in the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake are aiming to cement their position in the playoffs.


Match preview

San Jose Earthquakes forward Cade Cowell (44) celebrates with midfielder Niko Tsakiris (30) after scoring a goal against the Austin FC during the second half at PayPal Park on April 3, 2022© Reuters

San Jose are currently on course to miss out on the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years after picking up just 22 points from their 21 MLS games this term.

Saturday's hosts will have to close an eight-point gap in their final 13 games if they are to reach the post-season.

While a place in the top seven may be unlikely, the Quakes will be determined to clinch a positive result on Saturday after losing their last two MLS games.

They looked set to take at least a point from last weekend's encounter against Portland Timbers after Benjamin Kikanovic gave San Jose a half-time lead, but goals from Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Dairon Asprilla saw the Quakes leave empty-handed.

With San Jose currently holding the worst defensive record in the Western Conference, interim boss Alex Covelo will be aware that his backline will need to offer an improvement on Saturday if they are to claim a positive result.

Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni during the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on April 3, 2022© Reuters

In contrast to their hosts, Real Salt Lake are in a position to achieve a playoff finish, with Saturday's visitors currently sat in fourth position.

Despite occupying a place in the top seven, Pablo Mastroeni's side are just three points clear of Portland Timbers who reside in eighth spot.

With a place in the playoffs far from secure, Real Salt Lake need to improve on their recent form, which has yielded only one win in their last six games.

After beating Sporting Kansas City 3-0, the Claret and Cobalt had the chance to claim back-to-back victories last weekend, but a Jesus Ferreira strike helped Dallas condemn Real Salt Lake to a 1-0 defeat.

Mastroeni will be hoping that his side can bounce back on Saturday, although after winning just two of their 11 away games, the visitors may be content with a point against San Jose.

San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L


Team News

San Jose Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza (10) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half against the Columbus Crew at PayPal Park on March 5, 2022© Reuters

Despite losing last weekend, San Jose Earthquakes are expected to keep changes to a minimum for Saturday's contest.

The only alteration could be Paul Marie coming into the starting lineup to replace Tommy Thompson, who may have to settle for a place on the bench.

With 11 goals to his name this season, Jeremy Ebobisse will provide the main goal threat for the hosts, with the 25-year-old set to be joined in a front three by Cristian Espinoza and Kikanovic.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Bobby Wood and Damir Kreilach due to groin and back problems respectively.

Pablo Ruiz will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, which could present Julio Santos with a starting opportunity.

Sergio Cordova will attempt to add to his four-goal tally for the MLS season when he leads the line for the visitors on Saturday.

San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Marie, Nathan, Beason, Lopez; Monteiro, Remedi, Yueill; Espinoza, Kikanovic, Ebobisse

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Herrera, Silva, Glad, Brody; Santos, Loffelsend; Chang, Savarino, Meram; Cordova


SM words green background

We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 Real Salt Lake

Although San Jose Earthquakes are 11 points adrift of their opponents, we think that they will draw confidence from a run of home form which has seen them lose one of their last nine MLS home games, and we believe that the hosts will do enough to clinch a point on Saturday.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Earthquakes vs Salt Lake

San Jose Earthquakes
50.0%
Draw
25.0%
Real Salt Lake
25.0%
8
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New York City FC midfielder Gabriel Pereira (38) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Earthquakes with teammates during the second half at Yankee Stadium on May 1, 2022
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami1163226161021
2FC CincinnatiCincinnati10532129318
3New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls104511410417
4Toronto105141113-216
5Columbus Crew10361129315
6New York City FCNY City104241110114
7Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia93421714313
8DC United103431415-113
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta9333139412
10CF MontrealMontreal93331216-412
11Charlotte FCCharlotte FC103251013-311
12Chicago Fire102441118-710
13Orlando City92341117-69
14Nashville SCNashville91531017-78
15New England RevolutionNew England9117618-124

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Salt LakeSalt Lake10532179818
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy105322117418
3Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver95221810817
4Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd95221510517
5Los Angeles FCLos Angeles104331816215
6Colorado RapidsColorado104331615115
7Austin FCAustin104331413115
8Houston DynamoHouston9414910-113
9St Louis City92611514112
10Sporting Kansas CityKansas102531818011
11Portland TimbersPortland102442021-110
12Seattle SoundersSeattle10235131309
13Dallas9225912-38
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes101181425-114


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