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FC Dallas
Major League Soccer
Feb 25, 2024 at 1.30am UK
Toyota Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes

Dallas
2 - 1
Earthquakes

Illarramendi (25'), Sealy (90+4')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Kikanovic (6')
Gruezo (21'), Rodrigues (45')

Preview: Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Dallas and San Jose Earthquakes, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Both looking to begin the 2024 season on a positive note, Dallas will welcome San Jose Earthquakes to Toyota Stadium for a MLS clash on Saturday night in Texas.

The Toros will be looking to secure another playoff finish after ending up in seventh last term, while the Quakes will be aiming to place higher than last campaign's ninth.


Match preview

FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez before the game on January 23, 2024© Reuters

Taking charge of Dallas for a third-full season, Nico Estevez will walk his side out at the Toyota Stadium on Saturday night aiming to put last year's playoff disappointment behind them, with the Toros losing to Seattle Sounders over three matches.

After losing the first match of the best-of-three series 2-0, Dallas gave themselves a fighting chance of progressing to the next stage with a 3-1 win at Toyota Stadium thanks to goals from Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira and Jader Obrian, but the deciding match went the way of the Sounders at Lumen Field.

In an attempt to lift their first piece of silverware since the US Open Cup in 2016, Dallas have spent handsomely in the off-season transfer window, recruiting striker Petar Musa from Portuguese giants Benfica for a club-record fee of £8.6m.

The Toros have also taken advantage of the free agent market ahead of the 2024 campaign, bringing in Omar Gonzalez and goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer in order to bolster their defensive ranks.

San Jose Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez looks on on September 10, 2023© Reuters

Talking of exciting transfer activity, San Jose Earthquakes secured the services of 33-year-old Amahl Pellegrino from Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt earlier this month, with the attacker netting 32 goals across all competitions in back-to-back campaigns before switching Scandinavia for the States.

As one of MLS' founding members, the Quakes have enjoyed some heart-racing times in the league since its inception, but in recent times the California-based club have struggled to set the division alight, failing to make it past the first stage of the Western Conference playoffs last season.

A real issue for San Jose in 2023 was finding the back of the net, with Saturday's visitors only scoring 39 goals in 34 regular-season contests - only the Western Conference's basement dwellers Colorado Rapids (26) managed fewer strikes last time around.

Making an MLS all-stars appearance last year, Argentinian attacker Cristian Espinoza won the club's Golden Boot award in the league with 13 goals, three more than 27-year-old Jeremy Ebobisse.

Dallas friendly form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W


San Jose Earthquakes friendly form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D


Team News

FC Dallas forward Jader Obrian (8) and forward Alan Velasco (20) and the FC Dallas fans celebrate on October 8, 2023© Reuters

Dallas will be without the services of Alan Velasco until early July, with the winger recovering from a cruciate ligament injury sustained in October.

Geovane Jesus's absence can be attributed to the same injury, and the Brazilian right-back has not featured for the Toros since September.

A ligament issue is also keeping San Jose goalkeeper James Marcinkowski out of contention for Saturday's season opener, with the 26-year-old targeting a return in June.

Former Internacional stopper Daniel is expected to be in between the sticks for the Quakes, who have not tasted victory at Toyota Stadium since August 2018.


Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Junqua; Fraser, Illarramendi, Kamungo, Pomykal, Arriola; Musa

San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Akapo, Rodrigues, Beason, Marie; Espinoza, Gruezo, Yueill, Skahan; Pellegrino, Ebobisse


SM words green background

We say: Dallas 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes

In an opening match of the season which could be quite cagey, Dallas having home-field advantage could make all the difference on Saturday night.

The Toros will be raring to unleash record-signing Musa on MLS, and we reckon that the Portuguese attacker will have a winning start to life in North America.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Carter White

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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