San Diego FC will try to strengthen their lead atop the Western Conference and keep pace in the Supporters’ Shield race on Sunday when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes, who are fighting to hold on to a playoff spot.
San Diego (15-7-4, 49 points) entered the weekend with a four-point lead atop the West and in striking distance of the Philadelphia Union’s overall points lead.
Anders Dreyer scored his 12th goal and contributed his 17th assist — both team bests — as San Diego earned a 2-0 road victory over Sporting Kansas City last weekend. Hirving Lozano added his eighth goal.
Entering his expansion team’s first meeting against its Northern California opponents, San Diego manager Mikey Varas is wary of a San Jose offense that has scored 49 goals — just one fewer than his own West-leading club.
“It’s going to be really important that we are able to find a way to kind of break their man marking and find the right moments to get in behind them and take our chances well, but also be able to defend in those transition moments (against) a front three that’s really talented,” Varas said.
“And at the end of the day, making sure that we don’t get into a chaotic, completely open game, but that we find moments to control the game and slow it down.”
Veteran strikers Josef Martinez and Cristian Arango each have 11 goals for the Earthquakes (8-10-8, 32 points), who earned a surprising 2-1 win at second-place Vancouver last Saturday to move back into the ninth and final playoff spot in the West.
The win, which included a controversial penalty converted by Martinez, halted a seven-match winless run in all competitions.
Preston Judd scored four minutes into second-half stoppage time on DeJuan Jones’ assist to seal San Jose’s third MLS win against a team currently occupying a playoff place. Beginning with San Diego, six of the Quakes’ last eight MLS opponents are against teams that currently sit in West playoff spots.
“It’s a grind right now,” Jones said. “Every game is super important. We have to continue to get points, especially at home, no matter who we face. We did a really good job against the No. 2 team in the West, Vancouver. So I expect the same this Sunday.”
–Field Level Media
