San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 26
Avaya Stadium — San Jose
August 25 - 10 pm ET
WATCH: TSN2, ESPN+

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC will attempt to push back ahead of the playoff line in the Western Conference, when they head to Avaya Stadium to take on a San Jose Earthquakes side that has lost just once in their last four games.

The Whitecaps are coming off a 2-2 home draw with the New York Red Bulls, while the Earthquakes played Toronto FC to a 1-1 draw at home.

This is their second meeting this season, with the Western Conference rivals playing to a 2-2 draw at BC Place on May 16.

San Jose Earthquakes

Chris Wondolowski moved a step closer to MLS immortality in helping San Jose (3-13-8) draw Toronto FC, 1-1, at Avaya Stadium Saturday night.

After Lucas Janson opened the scoring in the 59th minute, Wondo came off the bench to level in the 77th minute. It was his 141st career goal, moving him within five goals of the MLS all-time goal record.

“I think our first half, in my perspective, was the best 45 minutes this season,” Mikael Stahre said. “We faced a really good team, an organized team with good players as well. Even if they rested some players they still had a really good lineup. I thought we created five really good chances in the first half, and if we scored in the first half, we would have won the game.”

Suspended: D - Shea Salinas
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kevin Partida (right ACL reconstruction surgery, partial meniscectomy)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Nick Lima, Guram Kashia, Florian Jungwirth, Joel Qwiberg — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Jahmir Hyla — Danny Hoessen, Vako

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Vancouver (9-9-7) stretched a league unbeaten streak to four games, but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls Saturday afternoon at BC Place.

Kendall Waston struck for a brace, heading home set pieces after Daniel Royer opened the scoring for the Red Bulls. But Royer volleyed in a Tyler Adams set piece late for his second goal.

“We need to do better after set pieces,” Carl Robinson said. “In the end we have one point on the board now,” Robinson said. “Given the first half, I take the point.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Jose Aja (left quad injury); DOUBTFUL: M - Jordan Mutch (right foot injury); QUESTIONABLE: M - Brek Shea (back injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Aaron Maund, Brett Levis — Alphonso Davies, Felipe, Russell Teibert, Nicolas Mezquida — Kei Kamara, Yordy Reyna

All-Time Series

Overall: San Jose Earthquakes 4 wins, 22 goals … Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 wins, 26 goals … 9 draws
At San Jose: Earthquakes 3 wins, 11 goals … Whitecaps 0 wins, 7 goals … 6 draws
Last meeting at San Jose: San Jose Earthquakes 3, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (March 11, 2017)