FC Dallas expect to be missing Santiago Mosquera. Attacker Francis Atuahene has been acquired on loan from the OKC Energy of USL.The San Jose Earthquakes report Kevin Partida as injured with Fatai Alashe as questionable.
FC Dallas
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Dominique Badji (undisclosed)
Injured/unavailable: Santiago Mosquera (hamstring)
San Jose Earthquakes
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Fatai Alashe (groin)
Injured/unavailable: Kevin Partida (knee)
MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN
FC Dallas played an impressive road game last weekend and it resulted in a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City. They are on quite a roll with nine wins, three draws and only two defeats in their past 14 league matches and remain in first place in the Western Conference with 42 points on the season. Man of the match Michael Barrios hadn’t scored for Dallas all MLS season long, but had a hat-trick with goals in the 23rd, 62nd and 74th minutes, while Kansas scored in the 19th minute as well as just before the final whistle. Dallas is very tough to beat at home as they are ranked fourth in the league and unbeaten with seven wins and four draws. They have also outscored the opposition 23-11 on home turf.
The San Jose Earthquakes managed to snap a three-game losing streak with their rather dull 0-0 home draw against Real Salt Lake last weekend. They are still winless in the past dozen league contests though with five draws and seven losses. They haven’t scored a goal in three straight games either and haven’t won since beating Minnesota Utd 3-1 away on May 13th. San Jose remains in cellar of the league and Western Conference on 13 points, with just two wins, seven draws and 12 losses. The playoffs are nearly impossible now as they are 18 points behind sixth place Real Salt Lake. The Earthquakes don’t appear to have much of a chance against Dallas, the top team in the West, as they have just one road win along with three draws and seven losses.
Dallas is the top team in the West and second-best in the league. I’m expecting them to handle San Jose, the league’s worst team this season.
SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW
Since FC Dallas is such a good defensive team with 25 goals against in 21 matches and the San Jose Earthquakes are one of the worst offensive sides with 29 goals in 21 games, I’m expecting a relatively low-scoring game. In addition, 52% of Dallas’ games have featured two goals or less.
HEAD TO HEAD
The San Jose Earthquakes were 1-0 winners in Dallas last season and also drew 1-1 at home. It is their only win in the last nine meetings though along with four draws and four losses.