San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 10
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids
Earthquakes Stadium – San Jose
September 5 – 10:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Altitude, NBC Sports California

Will the real San Jose Earthquakes please stand up? San Jose looked like one of the league's better teams at the MLS is Back Tournament, but have conceded eight goals in consecutive defeats since returning in market. They host a Colorado Rapids side Saturday night that have not won a regular season game since March 7 when they opened the year with back-to-back wins.

The Quakes won the last meeting in the Bay Area, defeating Colorado 3-1 on July 27, 2019. It was their eighth win in their previous 11 MLS matches. 

San Jose Earthquakes

It's fair to say Matias Almeyda is no fan of the rapid-fire approach to the restart of the regular season, where matches come thick and fast. Especially since they suffered consecutive defeats to the league's Los Angeles sides, including a 5-1 loss to LAFC Wednesday night.  

“I notice a big change after the long stop [after MLS is Back in Orlando] among the players and everyone, including myself,” Almeyda said in a virtual press conference that took place more than an hour after a 5-1 defeat to LAFC Wednesday. “The only way to get out of it is by working and unfortunately when you play every three days, time for work [practice] is brief.”

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • QUESTIONABLE: None
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Colorado Rapids

The Rapids' winless streak stretched to five games with a 1-1 home draw against Sporting Kansas City Saturday night. Cole Bassett put Colorado in front, but Gianluca Busio leveled 10 minutes later. Coach Robin Fraser knows they're traveling to San Jose to take on a wounded animal in the Earthquakes.

"It's going to be a difficult game, obviously they're a team that makes it extremely difficult for teams to get into their rhythm the way they defend," Fraser said on Thursday. "I know they had a poor result [Wednesday] night, which probably means they come out with more resolve on the weekend. We just have to be cognizant of that and try to be as efficient as we can in doing the things that we want to do."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Kortne Ford (D) - knee injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at Earthquakes

• Earthquakes: 17 wins, 54 goals
• Rapids: 8 wins, 36 goals
• 8 draws

Officials

• Referee: Kevin Stott
• Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Art Arustamyan
• 4th Official: Elijio Arreguin
• VAR: Ramy Touchan