Atlanta United vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2017 MLS Match Preview

Steve Brisendine

Atlanta United vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2017 MLS regular season
Bobby Dodd Stadium - Atlanta, Ga.
Tuesday, July 4 - 7 pm ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE

The emotionally charged moments just keep coming for the San Jose Earthquakes under new coach Chris Leitch.

Fresh off seeing his side score at the death in Saturday's 2-1 Cali Clasico victory over the LA Galaxy, Leitch now gets to take his club into Bobby Dodd Stadium on the Fourth of July, for a short-rest, long-trip match in a venue that Atlanta United fans have packed throughout their club's inaugural season.

Atlanta will be on a short turnaround as well, after a 2-0 away victory at Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, but a big home holiday crowd should provide a lift for the expansion side.

Atlanta United

Atlanta's 35 goals scored tie them with Chicago for the most in MLS, with Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez all capable of hitting big at any moment.

But the Fire sit first in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters' Shield standings, 10 points ahead of the Five Stripes. Here's the big difference between the two sides: team defense. Chicago have conceded just 17 times, while Atlanta have leaked 25 goals. But the expansion side has tightened up in recent weeks, earning shutouts in their last two league matches by taking fewer risks and playing more conservatively.

Suspended:None
Suspended next yellow card:None
Int’l Duty: FW Romario Williams (Jamaica)
Injury Report: OUT – FW Jacob Peterson (right lower leg injury), FW Kenwyne Jones (knee inflammation)

Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alec Kann – Anton Walkes, Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Greg Garza – Jeff Larentowicz, Carlos Carmona – Hector "Tito" Villalba, Miguel Almiron, Yamil Asad – Josef Martinez

San Jose Earthquakes

Don't look now, but the Earthquakes have become a team in contention on several levels, having gone unbeaten in five straight across all competitions and with two wins in two outings under new head coach Leitch.

They're currently sitting fourth in the Western Conference, tied with Portland on points but behind on the total goals tiebreaker, and they have a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal date with the LA Galaxy next week.

Scoring goals is still a concern, though; even after grabbing two against LA on Saturday, they're on 20 goals through 18 matches – the fewest of any team above the playoff line in either conference.

Suspended: None
Suspended next yellow card: None
Int’l Duty: FW Marco Urena (Costa Rica), MF Darwin Ceren (El Salvador), MF Anibal Godoy (Panama)
Injury Report: OUT — FW Quincy Amarikwa (ACL knee surgery), MF Marc Pelosi (left knee injury), DF Harold Cummings (ankle), M Fatai Alashe (knee surgery)

Projected Starting Lineup (3-5-2, right to left): David Bingham – Victor Bernardez, Andres Imperiale, Florian Jungwirth – Nick Lima, Jackson Yueill, Jahmir Hyka, Tommy Thompson, Cordell Cato – Danny Hoesen, Chris Wondolowski

Notes: The loss of Anibal Godoy to international duty creates a fascinating dilemma for Leitch, who has to find a way to replace Godoy's range, passing and hard tackling. Darwin Ceren, who would be his natural replacement, will also be at the Gold Cup with El Salvador. And Fatai Alashe, who can also play a similar role to Godoy's, is still out injured.