Minnesota United FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Minnesota United FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 11
TCF Bank Stadium — Minneapolis
May 12 - 2 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

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Looking to shake off a 2-0 loss to LAFC on Wednesday night at Banc of California Stadium, Minnesota United FC return home in search of a third consecutive victory at TCF Bank Stadium against a San Jose Earthquakes side that stretched its winless streak to seven games following a 1-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers Saturday.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Vako scored one goal and set up two others – both coming from Danny Hoesen, including the game-winner – as the Quakes claimed a 3-2 victory in the season opener March 3 at Avaya Stadium.

Minnesota United FC

Adrian Heath made four changes to his starting XI in an altered 4-3-3 formation from the side that defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 1-0, last Saturday. Carter Manley came on for an injured Eric Miller and Collin Martin, Maximiano and Harrison Heath started in the three-man midfield.

After Darwin Quintero struck the post, Eduard Atuesta and Mark-Anthony Kaye scored six minutes apart late in the first half to lift LAFC to the victory and leaving Heath to lament his team’s poor defending.

“I just thought they were two poor goals for us to concede,” Heath said after the match. “They didn’t have to work hard enough. … I just don’t think that as a group we defended the goal well all evening.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), D - Tyrone Mears (right leg injury), M - Ethan Finlay (torn right ACL), D - Marc Burch (left knee), F - Abu Danladi (right ankle); QUESTIONABLE: D - Tyrone Mears (right leg)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth — Eric Miller, Francisco Calvo, Michael Boxall, Jerome Thiesson — Ibson, Rasmus Schuller — Alexi Gomez, Darwin Quintero, Miguel Ibarra — Christian Ramirez

Notes: This season, Minnesota United keepers are facing 17.4 shots and 6.0 shots on target per game, the third and second most of any team, respectively. … Dating back to the start of last September, Minnesota is 4W-1L-2D at home, never once conceding more than one goal. They had conceded seven goals in the three home games prior.

San Jose Earthquakes

Mikael Stahre made one change to his starting XI from the squad that fell to Columbus Crew SC, 2-1, the previous week with Shea Salinas starting at left back as Florian Jungwirth slotted centrally for the injured Yeferson Quintana.

The Quakes were solid defensively and they were two minutes from snapping a two-game losing streak when Diego Valeri struck a sensational free kick to lift the Timbers to their third straight victory. It was more of the same for San Jose (1-5-2), which suffered a fifth one-goal loss of the season.

“I’m super disappointed from the result perspective, but I think we played with structure and I think we played with lots of commitment,” Stahre said after the match. “The only thing we can do is to analyze, go home and practice and do it again with a little bit better of a performance, 10 percent more.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Yeferson Quintana (ankle), M - Eric Calvillo (knee); QUESTIONABLE: M - Tommy Thompson (illness)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Nick Lima, Harold Cummings, Florian Jungwirth, Shea Salinas — Magnus Eriksson, Jackson Yueill, Anibal Godoy, Vako — Chris Wondolowski, Danny Hoesen

Notes: Hoesen finished with six shots in Wednesdays’ 1-0 loss. It was the third time this season an Earthquakes’ player has taken 4+ shots in a match and failed to score a goal. … Dating back to last season San Jose has conceded in 13 straight games. They are winless in their last seven games (5L-2D), their longest such drought since Aug. 19-Sept. 28, 2016.

All-Time Series

Overall: Minnesota United FC 0 wins, 4 goals … San Jose Earthquakes 3 wins, 7 goals … 1 tie
At Minnesota: Minnesota United FC 0 wins, 0 goals … Earthquakes 1 win, 1 goal … 0 ties
Last meeting at Minnesota: Minnesota United FC 0, San Jose Earthquakes 1 (April 29, 2017)