San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy – Game Preview

Friday, August 28, 2015, Avaya Stadium, San Jose, California

Week 26 brings us yet another uneven match, between the team that is now consider the top MLS franchise, and a neighbor that is trying to fight for a place in the 2015 playoffs.  Add to that the Californian rivalry, recent performances of both teams – and we end up with a chance for a spectacular game of soccer.

Hosts San Jose Earthquakes are ranked seventh in the MLS Western Conference (10-10-5), and are tied at 35 points with Seattle Sounders FC.  The Quakes are on quite a good run lately, winning their last three games in a span of eight days.  This is their longest winning streak since 2013, with the last game being a 2-0 victory at D.C. United.  And even more impressive, was the previous thrashing 5-0 victory at Sporting Kansas City.

Visitors LA Galaxy sit at top of Major League Soccer’s Western Conference with 46 points (13-7-7), and lead the MLS scoring with 49 goals scored this season.  The Galaxy is a goal-scoring machine lately, with five-goals-per-game scored in six of their last eight games in all competitions.  The last being a 5-1 victory at home against MLS expansion side NYCFC.

Although LA Galaxy come as favorites into this match, San Jose Earthquakes have a few things going for them beyond the home-side advantage.  San Jose have been surprising far favorable sides in the last matches, notably the annihilation of allegedly-stronger Sporting Kansas City at Kansas, and the last victory over MLS Eastern Conference leader D.C. United.

This is the third time this Major League Soccer season these two sides meet.  In previous matches the Quakes won 3-1 at Stanford Stadium, and the Galaxy won 5-0 at StubHub Center.

Leading scorers of both teams are Robbie Keane with 15 goals this MLS season for LA Galaxy, and Chris Wondolowski with 12 goals scored for San Jose Earthquakes.