San Diego FC v San Jose Earthquakes: Varas wants fortress feeling to continue into playoffs

San Diego FC are looking to cap a fantastic first MLS regular season at Snapdragon Stadium with a win and ensure their home ground remains a fortress ahead of the playoffs.

That was the rallying cry issued by head coach Mikey Varas as he previewed Saturday’s meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes.

San Diego top the Western Conference and are firmly in Supporters’ Shield contention with just three games remaining in their expansion season, the final two of which will be played on the road.

They have taken 26 points from 16 home matches this year (seven wins, five draws, four defeats), a tally only bettered by three other teams in the West.

“It’s all about continuing to grow in terms of making our home a fortress,” Varas said on Friday. “It’s about being complete and pushing our levels to be as consistent as possible.

“At this point in the season, everything is about getting to the playoffs in the best condition possible.”

Asked to summarise San Diego’s first home campaign, Varas added: “I think we’ve been great at home, I think the fans have been amazing – we have the best energy in the league.

“I think at the end of the day, the boys have played some really, really good games at home.

“Only a few teams come here and press all over the pitch, but I think this game is going to be very fast with their man marking – they’re very aggressive. If we can solve that high press, we should get into a lot of breakthrough situations.”

Fan Appreciation Night. Be there.

@SJEarthquakes
@SnapdragonStdm
7:30 PM
@MLS Season Pass on @appletv
@Sports760, @TudnRadio 1700 pic.twitter.com/xVlOSNfiyu

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) September 25, 2025

While San Diego are assured of their playoff place, San Jose are still battling to secure their spot in the postseason.

They sit 11th in the West with 35 points, two adrift of FC Dallas, who occupy the final play-in place but have a game in hand over Bruce Arena’s team.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer

After scoring San Diego’s lone goal in last week’s 1-1 draw at Atlanta United, Dreyer now has 15 goals and 17 assists this season.

The only other player in MLS history to reach both those marks in a single MLS campaign is Evander, who did so with the Portland Timbers last season.

San Jose Earthquakes – Cristian Arango

Last time out against St. Louis City, in a 3-1 defeat, Arango became the first MLS player this season to have a game with at least five shots (seven), five fouls won (five) and a goal.

Arango was the first Earthquakes player to do so in a single league match since Valeri Qazaishvili did so in September 2020 against Portland.

MATCH PREDICTION – SAN DIEGO FC WIN

San Diego earned a 2-1 road win when they faced the Earthquakes in August.

They have won all five of their meetings against fellow Californian teams and could now become the first team in MLS history to go through a full MLS season with a 100% win rate against clubs from California (minimum five games played).

Last time out, San Diego surrendered a half-time lead to draw with Atlanta, marking the first time they had failed to win an MLS match after leading at the interval (seven previous instances).

But they should respond this weekend. The Earthquakes have lost three straight matches, all by multiple goals, despite scoring in each one.

It is the first time in club history that San Jose have scored in three straight MLS matches while losing each by at least two goals.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Diego FC – 59%

San Jose Earthquakes – 19.6%

Draw – 21.4%