San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 27
Avaya Stadium — San Jose
August 29 - 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Disappointed to concede a late equalizer, FC Dallas head to Avaya Stadium Wednesday night hoping to extend their lead in the Western Conference, while the San Jose Earthquakes are seeking their first home win in nearly six months.

After tying the Houston Dynamo in the Texas Derby Thursday, FC Dallas have a one-point lead atop the West over Sporting Kansas City, while the Quakes saw a two-goal lead evaporate in a 3-2 home loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Saturday night.

This is the second meeting this season, with the Earthquakes stunning FC Dallas, 3-1, on August 4, handing them their first home loss of the year. Vako struck for a brace and Jahmir Hyka added a goal, while Roland Lamah scored the lone goal for FCD.

San Jose Earthquakes

With a two-goal lead after the opening 45 minutes, it appeared San Jose (3-14-8) would finally get an elusive second home win of the season, but the Whitecaps scored three times in a nine-minute span in the second half to rally for a 3-2 win Saturday night.

It started so positively for the Quakes, who raced out to a 2-0 lead as Hyka and Magnus Eriksson scored in the opening 18 minutes. But Yordy Reyna and Cristian Techera leveled with a pair of goals in a three-minute span before Kei Kamara netted the 68th-minute winner for the ‘Caps.

“We played really well, especially in the first 30 minutes and we took control of the game,” Mikael Stahre said. “When we conceded the first goal, I think we lost everything, actually. We lost the shape, the power and the willingness to play. It was a crazy defeat.”

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

Projected Starting XI
(4-5-1, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Nick Lima, Guram Kashia, Florian Jungwirth, Shea Salinas — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Jahmir Hyka, Vako — Danny Hoesen

FC Dallas

Another Texas Derby, another 1-1 draw. The script was slightly different Thursday night, with the rivals both scoring inside the final seven minutes, instead of the opening eight minutes, as was the case in the first encounter this year.

Michael Barrios broke a scoreless stalemate in the 83rd minute for FC Dallas (13-5-7) before Ronaldo Peña scored his first MLS goal two minutes from full time.

“It's painful at the end because we had all three points,” Oscar Pareja said. “We were able to take the lead and had the option to take the three points, but we give credit to the rival. They gave it their all and in one move they opened up a space that we had controlled. Today we leave two points in Houston, but we take this point and leave with our heads held high.”

Suspended: M - Carlos Gruezo
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: F - Francis Atuahene (left calf strain), D - Kris Reaves (left foot fracture); F - Santiago Mosquera (left hamstring strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jimmy Maurer — Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa, Marquinhos Pedroso — Jacori Hayes, Victor Ulloa — Tesho Akindele, Pablo Aranguiz, Michael Barrios — Dominique Badji

All-Time Series

Overall: San Jose Earthquakes 26 wins, 91 goals … FC Dallas 20 wins, 71 goals … 15 draws
At San Jose: Earthquakes 15 wins, 50 goals … FC Dallas 8 wins, 33 goals … 8 draws
Last meeting at San Jose: San Jose Earthquakes 1, FC Dallas 1 (April 14, 2017)