PayPal Park will welcome the San Jose Earthquakes and Inter Miami on Wednesday, as both sides will meet for the first time in MLS history.
Each of them are coming off draws this past weekend, as the Quakes were deadlocked 2-2 with Real Salt Lake, while Miami came away with a single point in a wild affair at home to FC Cincinnati (4-4).
Match preview
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Another bright start for San Jose ended in disappointment, and their playoff hopes are beginning to fade away, currently trailing the Portland Timbers by eight points for the final spot in the Western Conference.
Alex Covelo knows that his side only have themselves to blame for their current predicament, having scored first in each of their previous three MLS affairs but only managing to gain one point.
Lately, they have broken down defensively at the most inopportune moments, conceding four goals in their previous three matches with fewer than 20 minutes remaining.
17 of their 23 points earned this season have come on their home field, including four of their five victories, with the last one coming on July 3, 2-1 versus the Chicago Fire.
As good as they are in the attacking third, scoring 36 times this year, they are often caught short at the back, conceding the most goals in the league after 22 games (45).
The Goonies have picked up at least a point in four of their last five matches against MLS opponents from the Eastern Conference.
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A disappointed Phil Neville was left to ponder what happened to his backline this past weekend, with the Inter Miami manager saying they defended like boys against the Orange and Blue.
That was among the many things the former England women's boss had to say about the Herons performance, calling their lack of discipline and concentration unacceptable.
Even though Neville was not about to share any good news from their previous match, they still managed to claim a single point, thanks to a goal deep into stoppage time, as they remain in the playoff hunt, three points back of Cincy in the Eastern Conference.
Another encouraging sign in a sloppy affair versus Cincinnati was the fact that Miami looked sharp in the attacking third, scoring on four of their seven efforts on target, the most goals they have tallied in a single game all season.
The majority of their results lately have not gone their way, with only one win in their last six domestic encounters, but they have shown to be a resilient group through much of this year, collecting 14 points from losing positions, which is tied with CF Montreal for the third-most in the league.
Miami are winless in their last seven domestic road encounters, failing to score in six of those matches, tallying no more than a single goal in any away game all year.
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Team News
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Cristian Espinoza's goal in the 12th minute versus RSL was the first penalty that the Quakes had been awarded in 39 all-time league matches against Claret and Cobalt, while Jeremy Ebobisse put home his 11th of the campaign in that encounter and Jamiro Monteiro has six assists to lead the team in that department.
Quakes defender Tanner Beason made his 50th MLS appearance in their previous encounter, while Gilbert Fuentes is expected to miss this match for personal reasons.
Covelo went with the same starting 11 versus Salt Lake that began their fixture against the Portland Timbers, as Paul Marie, Jan Gregus and Cade Cowell all appeared as substitutes.
Inter Miami striker Gonzalo Higuain became the fourth player in league history to score a first-half hat-trick this season, but the hero ended up being Christopher McVey, who scored in the 97th minute to salvage a point for the Herons.
Former league MVP Alejandro Pozuelo picked up his first assist since being traded from Toronto, while their new signing Corentin Jean assisted on his first of the campaign after coming on for Robert Taylor for the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time.
Robbie Robinson continues to be hampered by a hamstring injury, while Neville made only one change to his starting 11, with Damion Lowe entering the lineup in place of Kieran Gibbs.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Marie, Nathan, Beason, Lopez; Yueill, Gregus, Monteiro; Espinoza, Ebobisse, Cowell
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Lowe, Sailor, McVey; Gregore, Mota; Duke, Pozuelo, Azcona; Higuain
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 Inter Miami
They each have some outstanding individual talent, although neither have shown the discipline nor organisation to finish off a match when leading, which is why we project a draw for this encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
