Surging Quakes host last-place Whitecaps
A pair of resurgent teams who still have plenty of work to do will meet Friday night when the San Jose Earthquakes play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Earthquakes (5-7-6, 21 points) are on a seven-game unbeaten run and are coming off a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday. The Whitecaps (3-7-7, 16 points) are on a five-game unbeaten run, keeping the string of points alive with a second-half goal in a 1-1 tie at the Los Angeles Galaxy, also on Sunday.
Yet despite the better play from both teams, nine of the combined 12 games where the two teams have earned points of late have been draws. And neither team is above the playoff line in the Western Conference yet.
In fact, the Whitecaps remain in last place in the West, tied with expansion Austin FC.
Forward Lucas Cavallini and goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau have returned to the Whitecaps from Gold Cup duty with Canada's national team, but Cavallini sprained his left knee against the Galaxy and did not play in the second half. He will be out for six weeks, according to the team.
Vancouver defender Ranko Veselinovic scored the game-tying goal at L.A. on a header off a corner kick from Deiber Caicedo. The game also featured the MLS debut of attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld, who came off the bench in the second half.
"Being surrounded by good players, it makes it easier to gel, to fit into the team," said Gauld, a native of Scotland, who last played in Portugal with SC Farense. "And it's a good bunch of boys as well. Whenever you've got quality around you, it always makes the transition easier."
Against LAFC, the Earthquakes received a pair of goals in the opening 28 minutes from Nathan and Javier "Chofis" Lopez before midfielder Jackson Yueill gave up an own goal late in the first half. San Jose's defense held tight in the second half at home for the victory.
Forward Jeremy Ebobisse made his Earthquakes debut after he was acquired in a trade with the Portland Timbers last week. San Jose is on the longest active unbeaten run in MLS and its first seven-game points run since the end of the 2013 season.
"I think it's about keeping order and continue to be a team that gets better physically," said midfielder Cristian Espinoza, who had two assists Sunday. "We know there are a lot of things that we need to improve on, both defensively and offensively. We're on the right path to accomplish our goal."
--Field Level Media
