Preview: Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 August 2023, 22:05

Aiming to end a barren run which has seen them win just one of their last six games, Sporting Kansas City welcome San Jose Earthquakes to Children's Mercy Park on Sunday.

On the other hand, the away side will be looking to string together a decent run of results having blown hot and cold in recent weeks.

Match preview

Sporting Kansas City were dumped out of the first knockout round of the League Cup following a 4-1 defeat against Toluca on August 5.

Peter Vermes's men went behind thanks to a stroke of ill luck as Daniel Rosero put the ball past his own goalkeeper and that set the tone for things to come as Pedro Raul, Robert Morales and Juan Dominguez all added insult to injury before William Agada pulled one back late on.

The Wizards' continental calamity was in keeping with their abysmal domestic campaign so far as they currently sit 11th in the Western Conference of the MLS table.

Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have managed only one win from the last seven encounters involving the teams.

However, that solitary victory did come in the most recent encounter back in April when Saturday's hosts fell to a humbling 3-0 thrashing.

San Jose Earthquakes snapped a run of back to back defeats with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Monday.

Despite posing little goal threat on the day, Luchi Gonzalez's men took the lead against the run of play through Cristian Espinoza and held on to come away with all three points.

As a result, the Goonies have moved up to fifth in the Western Conference standings, four points clear of the chasing pack in the race for playoff contention.

Off the back of recently recording their first win on the road in six outings, Sunday's visitors now set out to pick up consecutive wins away from home for the first time since February.

Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer form:

Sporting Kansas City form (all competitions):

San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer form:

San Jose Earthquakes form (all competitions):

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Team News

Sporting Kansas City's Kortne Ford is a long-term absentee having ruptured his achilles tendon towards the end of 2022.

Defender Graham Zusi is also unfit to participate for the hosts due to a muscle problem he sustained against FC Dallas back in June.

Nathan remains without an appearance for San Jose this year due to a knee injury and the Brazilian is not expected to make his return to action anytime soon.

Cristian Espinoza has gotten himself on the score sheet in four straight league matches, making the 28-year-old one to keep an eye on for the visiting team.

Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:

Pulskamp; Leibold, Fontas, Rosero, Davis; Kinda, Walter, Gutierrez; Russell, Thommy, Shelton

San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:

Daniel; Trauco, Beason, Rodrigues, Akapo; Gruezo, Baldisimo; Cowell, Monteiro, Espinoza; Ebobisse

We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes

Goals have been a real feature of this fixture over the years and we expect that trend to continue here.

We can also see the home side just about doing enough to emerge triumphant come the end of the 90 minutes.

How to watch

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

Previews by email

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Cala
Continental
Cristian Espinoza
Daniel Rosero
Domestic
Graham Zusi
Juan Dominguez
Kortne Ford
League Cup
lineups
Luchi Gonzalez
Nathan
Pedro
Pedro Raul
Peter
Peter Vermes
possible lineups
predicted scorelines
prediction
Raul
Robert
Robert Morales
San Jose
San Jose Earthquakes
Sporting Kansas City
team news
Toluca
William
William Agada

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