Sporting KC and LIVEStrong Park Host San Jose
By: Chris | June 16th, 2011
LIVEStrong Park will host the Quakes for it’s second MLS match this season. The Quakes are the hottest team in MLS right now, notching 13 points out of a possible 15 in their last 5 games, as well as going undefeated in their last 6. Sporting have had a string of poor road results since opening day, including an exciting but painful 0-0 draw during LIVEStrong’s first match this season. But Sporting will be riding a wave after coming off a 4-1 drubbing at FC Dallas last weekend and will look to secure their first home victory of the season.
San Jose will trot out the same starting XI as last week, as Frank Yallop is loathe to mess with a good thing, and this starting lineup has been good. The Quakes currently have the best goals per game ratio in the league at 1.54 goals per game, and they have had multiple scoring games in their last 5 league matches. Khari Stephenson picked up a thigh contusion during the DC game and might not make the starting XI. If so, Simon Dawkins looks ready to start a game since coming off compartment syndrome surgery. The Bobby Convey / Ramiro Corrales swap at left mid and left back looks to continue, and Burling and Hernandez will pair up to lock down the back line again.
The Quakes haven’t given up more than 1 goal since they played New York in April, so I expect the defensive line will firm up against Sporting. Brad Ring and Sam Cronin play more like holding midfielders, and if Stephenson starts, he might play as a secondary striker in a 4-4-1-1 to help the Quakes clog up the midfield. Sporting played a 4-5-1 against FC Dallas with CJ Sapong as the lone striker and tore Dallas to pieces. Ring, Cronin and the defense will need to make sure to clog the middle and force Sporting to play out wide.
I expect San Jose to continue their good run of games. They’ve got the confidence and swagger of being the best in MLS right now, and I think that will override any sort of justification Sporting might have coming into this game. I think the Quakes will win 2-1.
GO QUAKES!
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Comments
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So you think KC is going to start losing in their new stadium too? They cooled off Dallas ON THE ROAD. They should be able to cool of the Quakers.
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So, how did you like that game?
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I think Sporting just came out with more fire than the Quakes did. I think the heat/humidity my have also been a factor, neither team looked superb, but I’ll give credit to Kansas City, they definitely played better than the Quakes.
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