Two teams fighting at the bottom of the Major League Soccer Western Conference will collide on Sunday when San Jose Earthquakes welcome Sporting Kansas City to PayPal Park.
The hosts are undefeated in their previous four matches coming into this one, while the Wizards also managed to secure three points in midweek to head into this weekend.
Match preview
San Jose Earthquakes have enjoyed some frantic performances across their previous three games which have seen tons of goals both for and against them.
A 2-2 draw in the U.S. Open Cup was followed by an end-to-end 3-3 fixture against Vancouver last weekend with the matches proving to be entertaining for the fans.
That continued in midweek with a five-goal thriller which saw them come from behind to pick up a crucial three points with a goal from Jackson Yueill and a brace by Jamiro Monteiro.
The three points saw them overtake their opponents this Sunday in the league, but considering that gap is just by goal difference, the pressure will be on them to push further away.
The visitors have suffered plenty in the early stages of this campaign, winning just three of their opening 13 fixtures in the MLS.
During those games Sporting Kansas City have had defensive frailties which have been exploited by their opponents, particularly last weekend when they were beaten 7-2 by Portland Timbers.
The Wizards have the worst goal difference in the entire Western Conference, but they can take some confidence from the fact their opponents have conceded more goals this season.
Kansas were able to pick up a victory in midweek to react to their heavy defeat as a brace from Daniel Salloi saw them win 2-1, but that was then spoiled by two late red cards to Andreu Fontas and the goalscorer himself.
Peter Vermes will also be aware that his team have failed to win a single away game this season, drawing just one of the seven they have been involved in to this point.
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Team News
Monteiro has proven to be a real goal threat from midfield this season, and when working alongside Yueill they have proven to be a strong duo.
After securing another victory at the weekend, it is unlikely that San Jose will make any changes, with the focus being on consistency for the team.
The visitors will be missing both Salloi and Fontas due to suspension after they were sent off in injury time during their previous outing.
They are not the only players who are missing due to red cards either as Robert Voloder is also out of contention at the moment.
Sporting Kansas also have a lengthy list of injuries right now with Jose Mauri, Alan Pulido, Gadi Kinda, Graham Zusi and Nicolas Isimat-Mirin all being on the shelf.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Marie, Nathan, Calvo, Lopez; Remedi, Espinoza, Yueill, Monteiro, Cowell; Ebobisse
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Sweat, Ford, Ndenbe, Pierre; Walter, Rosell, Hernandez; Russell, Vujnovic, Vazquez
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 Sporting Kansas City
If there is something that can be expected with these two teams going head to head it is goals, with each squad having proven their ability to find the back of the net, while they have also struggled to defend.
Sporting Kansas City come into the game with confidence after winning in midweek, but the hosts have had a stronger run as of late which should give them the edge here.
For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.
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