Philadelphia Union vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Philadelphia Union vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
Talen Energy Stadium – Chester
7:00 pm ET – April 7, 2018
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Two teams looking to bounce back from a Week 5 loss meet at Talen Energy Stadium as the Philadelphia Union host the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night.

The Union’s road woes continued, a winless streak that is now 13 league games following a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids — their first defeat of the season, while the Quakes jumped out to an early lead, but surrendered a pair of second-half goal in a 2-1 loss to unbeaten NYCFC.

The Union are unbeaten in their last four games against the Quakes (2W-2D), outscoring San Jose, 9-6, during that span.

Philadelphia Union

Dominique Badji scored his first professional hat trick — all three goals coming in the second half — as the Rapids celebrated their first win, while the Union were left to lament their first loss.

While it was the Badji show in the second half, Union coach Jim Curtin said the opening 45 minutes was “probably our best half of soccer.”

The match was also the debut for Matthew Real at left back, another Union Homegrown given a chance to showcase for the first team. He filled in for the injured Fabinho.

“Matthew’s done really well in preseason and in training,” Curtin said. “I thought he had a decent performance tonight despite the loss. Obviously everybody wants the three points, but for a young kid to make his debut, I thought there was a lot of positives to take from it.”

The Union welcome Fafa Picault back to the fold after the midfielder served a three-game suspension for offensive language during a preseason game on Feb. 14.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Fabinho (right meniscus surgery recovery), D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery), D - Josh Yaro (right adductor strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Matthew Real — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — Fafa Picault, Borek Dockal, David Accam — CJ Sapong

Notes: Dating back to last season, the Union have only lost once in their last 11 league home games (8W-2D). Additionally, they have yet to concede a goal at home this year. … Philadelphia’s 4.4% shot conversion rate (inc. blocks) is the second lowest in the league so far this season.

San Jose Earthquakes

When Yeferson Quintana scored in the third minute, it was the third consecutive game San Jose (1-2-0) scored in the first half, and for the second time the Quakes had a halftime lead. But they conceded twice in the second half for the third time this year in a 2-1 loss to NYCFC.

The Quakes had lost just two out of 18 league home games since the start of 2017 and were 122-5-25 since 2000 when leading at the half, according to the Mercury News.

“The disappointment is huge,” Magnus Eriksson said after the game. “There are a lot of players in this locker room that hate to lose. Still, we’re going in the right direction. The last 30 minutes was good. But the 90 minutes was not good enough to win the game”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: None

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Nick Lima, Yeferson Quintana, Harold Cummings, Shea Salinas — Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Vako — Chris Wondolowski, Danny Hoesen

Notes: San Jose recorded 10 shots on target vs. NYCFC last weekend. It is the only time since 2010 that the Earthquakes have recorded 10 shots on target in a match and lost. … San Jose has won just one of their last 11 MLS away games (9L-1D). The Earthquakes have conceded an average of 3 goals per game across those 11 matches.

All-Time Series

Overall: Philadelphia Union 3 wins, 12 goals … San Jose Earthquakes 4 wins, 12 goals … Ties 3
At Philadelphia: Union 2 wins, 8 goals … Earthquakes 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 1
Last meeting at Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1 (April 30, 2016)