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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 Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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