SAN JOSE, Calif. — The struggles of the San Jose Earthquakes this season are well documented, as both the team’s offense and defense have not been able to sync, and their 2-8-3 record leaves them 11 points below the line in the Western Conference.
They’ve only collected a single victory at home — a season opening 3-2 victory over Minnesota United — and are now winless in four games at Avaya Stadium. Their last game at home was also their worst of the season, as a lethargic showing and individual mistakes lead to a 3-1 loss to D.C. United, and a frustrated fanbase has become more vocal in sharing their displeasure.
Quakes head coach Mikael Stahre knows the results are poor, but he maintains that the team is getting closer and closer to putting together the complete effort that is necessary to edge out opponents on the scoreboard. With expansion darlings Los Angeles FC visiting San Jose this weekend, he is pleased with the effort he sees in the squad at training this week.
“We have a busy schedule coming up, so it was important to bring the energy and the spirit today so we can be ready for tomorrow,” Stahre told Pro Soccer USA. “Without that, we can’t win. Obviously, it’s an extremely important game tomorrow, you can’t hide from that.”
The Quakes will be facing LAFC for the first time Saturday evening, and they will have their work cut out for them against a team that has already won four times away from home this season, tied for tops in MLS with Atlanta United. LAFC will be without some key starters — Carlos Vela, Marcos Urena, Laurent Ciman, and Omar Gabar have each been called into his respective country’s World Cup roster — but they still feature a formidable front line.
“Yeah, so far they’ve done a lot right,” Florian Jungwirth told Pro Soccer USA. “They are one of the best teams in the league, and, obviously, they are the favorites tomorrow. Even with Vela and Marcos and Ciman missing, they have a very good roster, so we need to have a very, very good game to get something from it.”
LAFC head coach Bob Bradley still has offensive stars like Diego Rossi, Lee Nguyen, and Benny Feilhaber available for selection on Saturday. In addition, former Earthquakes defender and San Jose native Steven Beitashour is also expected to play, providing the visitors another possible edge, especially given the Quakes struggles to find consistency at full back.
“They are all very good players,” Jungwirth added. “We have had a lot of changes on defense this year, but that is part of the business. I won’t be surprised if tomorrow we have another player at left back, because Shea [Salinas] is out as well, so there will be another player for sure.”
Stahre indicated earlier in the week that Salinas would be out at least a couple of games, so that will require the coach to find a full back who’s fit and ready to go. Joel Qwiberg started in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at the Portland Timbers in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup and remains a candidate, as does Jungwirth or Chris Wehan.
“This is definitely a position we are struggling with,” Stahre said, “so of course, with Shea out, left back will be a position we have to solve.”
While finding an effective left back has been a challenge for the Quakes, the team does have a model of consistency starting on the other end of the back line. Nick Lima, who has played every minute of the season, will definitely be in the starting line-up against LAFC. Backing up the entire defense is goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, the only other player to start and finish every game in 2018, and he remains hopeful that the team’s preparation this week will help them break a four game winless streak.
“Yeah, we are a third of the way through the season and we are 11 points below the line,” Tarbell told Pro Soccer USA, “so we have to focus on having good performances that we need to win games. We are sticking to game plans we have, and as players, we need to perform a little bit better. That’s all we can do, all we can focus on.”
Jungwirth, who wears the captain’s armband when Chris Wondolowski is not in the lineup, agreed that the coaching staff is doing its part to prepare the team, but the defensive midfielder warned that the players have to make the extra effort to propel them forward from their slump.
“It is a tough way right now,” Jungwirth said. “Maybe saying we are desperate is a bit too much, but everyone here wants to win. To do that, you need to have a better attitude. You can’t just hope to win, you have to work really hard, and this is something we missed the last few weeks, and tomorrow, I hope we are ready and win the points.”
Other than the disappointing 3-1 loss to D.C. United in their last game at Avaya Stadium, the Quakes have not lost by more than one goal all season. It’s not necessarily the case that San Jose deserved points in those seven games, but it would be fair to say that the Earthquakes are too often finding themselves on the wrong side of close contests.
“There is a fine line,” Stahre said, “so we have to be more assertive, and maybe we will get that luck. We have to get a win.”
Match Information:
When: June 9, 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Where: Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA.
Broadcast: NBC Sports California, KNBR 1050
Live Stream: ESPN+
Earthquakes injury report: Out: Shea Salinas (hamstring)