San Jose Earthquakes will be out to extend their unbeaten home run in MLS when they welcome Eastern Conference rivals Portland Timbers to PayPal Park this weekend.
Following their 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union last week, the Earthquakes come into this match unbeaten in their last four league games, while the Timbers' 1-0 win over Dallas saw them bring an end to a four-match winless run.
Match preview
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The hosts are a long way from the side that finished last season at the foot of the Western Conference and third-from-bottom overall, currently in fifth place with 26 points after 17 matches, just three points behind the current leaders, St Louis.
Luchi Gonzalez's side got off to an excellent start against Philadelphia last week, as Jeremy Ebobisse gave his side the lead inside the first 10 minutes with his seventh goal of the season, while a rocket by Miguel Trauco from 25 yards out sealed the win after Philadelphia levelled proceedings in the first half.
Despite winning the match, San Jose were arguably the second-best side in terms of performance on the day, managing just two shots on target and requiring yet another masterclass from their goalkeeper Daniel to keep out their opponents and secure the points.
With that win, though, the Quakes now possess the best home record of any side in the Western Conference and are the only team yet to lose on their home patch in the West.
In their eight matches at PayPal Park, the Quakes have taken 20 of a possible 24 points, recording six wins and two draws, with a tally of 13 goals scored and just four conceded.
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The Portland Timbers picked up a much-needed three points in an eventful match against Dallas last week that included two VAR interventions, with the first resulting in a penalty reversal and the second in a player that was sent off being brought back on.
That win was their first in five league matches spread over a month, during which time they lost two and drew two while failing to score on three of those occasions.
Despite not being able to record back-to-back wins yet this season, the Timbers are still slightly better off than they were last season at the same stage and can look forward to consecutive home fixtures in the next week against two of the bottom three sides in the Eastern Conference, Chicago Fire and New York City.
Giovanni Savarese's side have found it difficult on their travels this season, having only picked up six of their current 20-point tally in away matches with a record of one win, three draws and five losses in nine games.
In their last three matches on the road, the Timbers have played two stalemates against Real Salt Lake and, most recently, to the Seattle Sounders, with a 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City wedged between.
Portland won the last meeting between the sides 2-1 in July last year on their home ground; however, they did lose 3-2 at this venue two months earlier.
Team News
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Carlos Akapo was restored to the starting lineup for the Quakes in their last match and will be pushing to make the cut here again in place of Paul Marie at full-back.
Trauco's incredible goal in the last match should secure him a spot alongside Tanner Beason and Rodrigues in the back line, with Carlos Gruezo in the pivot.
Cade Cowell was hauled off just after the hour mark for Benji Kikanovic last time out, and the latter could get the nod to partner Ebobisse in the attack.
Nathan Cardoso is the only long-term absentee for Gonzalez's side and is only expected to return from his ACL injury by October at the soonest.
After missing the last match through suspension, Claudio Bravo will likely return to the starting lineup for the Timbers in place of Juan Mosquera.
Yimmi Chara (hamstring), Pablo Bonilla (hamstring), David Ayala (ACL), Eryk Williamson (ACL) and Felipe Mora (knee) have all been ruled out for this fixture.
Diego Chara picked up his fourth yellow card in their last match, meaning that he will be walking a tightrope in this one but should still partner Cristhian Paredes in defensive midfield.
Franck Boli netted his third of the season against Dallas and should lead the line again, with Evander, Santiago Moreno and Dairon Asprilla providing support at the top end of the pitch.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Akapo, Rodrigues, Beason, Trauco; Gruezo, Yueill, Monteiro; Espinoza, Kikanovic, Ebobisse
Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Bingham; Bravo, Zuparic, McGraw, Miller; Chara, Paredes, Asprilla, Moreno, Evander; Boli
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Portland Timbers
The Quakes' home form has been excellent this season, and despite letting in a goal in each of their last three matches at PayPal Park, they have found a way to outscore their opponents more often than not.
The visitors, on the other hand, have struggled for results on the road, and coming up against the side with the best home record in the Western Conference does not bode well for their chances in this one.
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Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
