Off to their best start since 2016, the San Jose Earthquakes head to Utah searching for a road breakthrough against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
San Jose (4-2-2, 14 points) won for the fourth time at home this season when it demolished Sporting Kansas City 3-0 on April 15. The Earthquakes have notched four victories in five home matches (and tied in the other), which is the best mark for the club since 2016.
Jeremy Ebobisse led the attack against Kansas City with a brace and Cristian Espinoza accounted for the Quakes’ third goal. The striker duo has combined for nine goals over eight matches. Defensively, JT Marcinkowski earned his third clean sheet in six starts.
Kansas City played a man down much of the match after an early red card on Robert Castellanos. San Jose responded by stepping up pressure both ways.
“I think the group shows a patient urgency, where we want strong and fast actions and intensity, but at the same time, we want to be calm and know we can weather the moment and we can get through the moment,” Earthquakes coach Luchi Gonzalez said.
A different sense of urgency is guiding Real Salt Lake at this juncture.
RSL (2-5-0, 6 points) has dropped four straight matches against Western Conference opponents. A lack of offensive punch has derailed the Utah club. Salt Lake has tallied just seven goals this season and has been shut out three times in five losses. Justen Glad and Jefferson Savarino have each scored a pair of goals, but the rest of the roster has combined for three goals.
Defensively, the story isn’t much better. RSL has allowed 16 goals in seven matches. Only Montreal has given up more goals at this juncture of the season.
Salt Lake hasn’t given up hope on reversing course after showing a more competitive form in its last two matches.
“To get this team to the playoffs is my number one goal,” goalkeeper Zac MacMath said.
–Field Level Media
