Verdict: Total goals over 2.5
Best odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Betfair
Los Angeles Galaxy are set to welcome San Jose Earthquakes to the Dignity Health Sports Park in what will be match No. 19 for both sides in the Western Conference of the American MLS. The two teams find themselves in significantly different situations going into the clash.
LA Galaxy
As for the home team, they don’t really have any chances of finishing at the top to secure a direct place in the final series given that they’re 13 points behind Austin FC, even though they have two games in hand on the leaders, but reaching the play-offs should be quite enough, providing they take the remainder of the season seriously. At the moment, Galaxy are fifth with 27 points, the same tally as Minnesota United and Nashville SC directly below, and only one point more than Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers who are outside the play-off zone. It’ll be a tight race indeed.
The form of the team under the command of Greg Vanney is difficult to describe, let alone to explain. Their last-six run in the league began with a 0-3 home defeat to Houston Dynamo, followed by a 4-1 home win over Conference leaders Austin, a 1-1 home draw against Portland, a 2-3 defeat at home against Minnesota, a 4-0 thrashing of Montreal at home, and eventually a 3-2 defeat away to city rivals Los Angeles FC. Squeezed in there were a 3-1 win over LA FC in the round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup, and a 1-2 defeat to Sacramento Republic in the quarterfinals.
The city derby which they lost in the league only a couple of days ago began with LA FC taking the lead through Jose Cifuentes in the 17th minute, and Samuel Grandsir hit back for the Galaxy in the 55th. Nonetheless, Cifuentes scored once more in the 70th and Christian Arango added another for LA FC two minutes later. Rayan Raveloson’s goal with nine minutes left on the clock proved mere consolation.
Team News
Vanney’s ranks have been boosted by the signing Gaston Brugman. The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has arrived from Italian side Parma Calcio and could make his debut for the Galaxy in this match.
Upfront, former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has formed a fine partnership with Serbia international Dejan Joveljic, and the pair of them should have no problems in keeping their places in the team.
San Jose Earthquakes
Meanwhile, the Quakes won’t even be hoping, at least not with any realism in their heads, to make the final series play-offs. There is no relegation from the MLS, but they still won’t be happy about being right at the bottom of the conference with 19 points, the same tally as Sporting KC directly above, though the players led by interim manager Alex Covelo have two games in hand on the team from Kansas.
What will be worrying Covelo ahead of the trip to Los Angeles is the fact that his team won only one of their last six outings in the league, a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire just over a week ago. Before that, they drew 1-1 at home against Sporting KC, lost 3-2 away to LA FC, played a goalless draw against Nashville away, and lost 2-0 away to Real Salt Lake. After the win over Chicago, they played a 2-2 draw away to Toronto.
Jeremy Ebobisse struck first for the Quakes, only to see his team go behind as Deandre Kerr and Jonathan Osorio brought joy to the home supporters midway through the second half. In the end, Jack Skahan snatched a point for the Covelo’s men two minutes into the stoppage time.
Team News
Centre-back Francisco Calvo has an ankle issue and will likely miss this match. Winger Said Haji is also a doubt having been absent due to a concussion recently, as is midfielder George Asomani who’s been having hip issues.
Ebobisse’s place at the tip of the attacking line can hardly be disputed, given that he’s scored six goals more than the second man on the list, winger Christian Espnoza, who is likely to start on the right again. They’ll probably be joined upfront by Benjamin Kikanovic on the left.
Skahan could be rewarded for his heroics in the last match, and given a place in the middle of the park from the start this time.
Conclusion
Galaxy are the obvious favourites to start winning again – what better way right now than against the struggling Quakes. But it will be an open contest, and there should be plenty of goals.
Verdict: Total goals over 2.5
Best odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Betfair
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