San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 7
Avaya Stadium – San Jose
10:30 pm ET – April 14, 2018
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

Two Western Conference rivals who won in Week 1 – and haven’t earned three points since – meet up at Avaya Stadium, with the San Jose Earthquakes coming off a 1-1 draw at Philadelphia, while the Houston Dynamo return from a bye in Week 6.

San Jose Earthquakes

The Quakes (1-2-1) snapped a two-game losing streak, but settled for a 1-1 draw with the Union. Magnus Eriksson put San Jose in front in the 37th minute, but Alejandro Bedoya stuck in the 64th minute to equalize for the hosts.

“It was a great feeling, a good goal, unfortunately not good enough to win the game,” Eriksson said. “But it was a great experience.”

Deep into second-half stoppage time, Harold Cummings was given a red card for violent conduct after Video Review and he’ll be suspended for Saturday night’s showdown with the Dynamo.

Suspended: D - Harold Cummings
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: None

Projected Starting XI
(4-4–2, right to left)
GK: Tarbell — Nick Lima, Yeferson Quintana, Jimmy Ockford, Joel Qwiberg — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Vako — Chris Wondolowski, Danny Hoesen

Notes: Vako Qazaishvili enters this weekend as one of eight MLS players with multiple goals and assists. … Since the start of 2017, San Jose has lost just three home games (11W-5D). The Earthquakes have only been held scoreless once over that span.

Houston Dynamo

Houston (1-2-1) has had a week to digest and process a 2-0 loss to the New England Revolution, the Dynamo’s second defeat of the season at BBVA Compass Stadium, where they were 12-1-4 a year ago.

“This extra week gives us an opportunity to correct that stuff and harp on it and really figure out what the issues are and solve them,” goalkeeper Chris Seitz said. “It gives us extra time to really work out those kinks and get back on the field and be a better version of ourselves.”

Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera has rotated his lineup, especially in the back, and that continues Saturday night with veteran DaMarcus Beasley suspended after being sent off in the 35th minute against the Revs for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Suspended: D - DaMarcus Beasley
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad), D - Philippe Senderos (right hamstring), D - George Malki (left knee sprain), D - Dylan Remick (concussion)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Chris Seitz — Adolfo Machado, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Leonardo, Kevin Garcia — Darwin Ceren, Tomas Martinez, Eric Alexander — Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Andrew Wenger

Notes: Six of Houston’s seven goals this season have come between the 16th and 45th minutes of matches. Only three other clubs have at least four in that time (San Jose being one of them). … The Dynamo have gotten just one win in their last 20 MLS road games (9L-10D) and have drawn their last three. Only five teams have scored fewer road goals than Houston’s 17 in that time.

All-Time Series

Overall: San Jose Earthquakes 8 wins, 24 goals … Houston Dynamo 11 wins, 29 goals … Ties 2
At San Jose: Earthquakes 6 wins, 16 goals … Dynamo 4 wins, 11 goals … Ties 1
Last meeting at San Jose: San Jose Earthquakes 1, Houston Dynamo 0 (Sept. 16, 2017)