Get to Know: #SJEarthquakes
- Updated: March 25, 2015
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
Could the Revolution’s first win of the season come at the expense of the San Jose Earthquakes for the second straight year?
We’ll find out on Saturday, when the Earthquakes step onto the pitch at Gillette Stadium to face the Revolution at 3:00pm. The locals secured their first victory of 2014 in a 2-1 win over San Jose at Buck Shaw Stadium on Mar. 29.
Here are a few things to know about the Earthquakes going into Saturday’s match:
*A familiar face took the coaching reins in San Jose following the 2014 season, as longtime Dynamo boss Dominic Kinnear now guides the ‘Quakes. Former Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston also ventured west with Kinnear as an assistant coach. Kinnear owned a 6-9-8 regular season record against New England during his time in Houston (2006-2014), as well as a couple of MLS Cup victories (sorry, Revolution fans).
*San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham leads all MLS goalkeepers with 13 saves through three games, and has faced a league-high 17 shots. For that, Bingham can thank a defense that’s been less than remarkable, as exemplified by Chicago’s 65 percent passing accuracy rate in the final third against San Jose on Sunday, a match that the Earthquakes somehow managed to win 2-1.
*Six days after the Revolution dropped a season-opening 3-0 loss to Seattle at CenturyLink Field on Mar. 8, the Earthquakes stunned the league by posting a 3-1 win over the Sounders in Seattle. Chris Wondolowski scored twice for the guests as the victory ended the club’s 16-game winless streak dating back to last summer.
*One thing the Revolution must hold firm on is their defensive set pieces. Through the Earthquakes first three, they’ve already scored two set piece goals. On the other hand, the Revolution should get opportunities of their own from dangerous set pieces, which the Earthquakes have conceded quite often early on.
*Meanwhile, the Revolution have to like their chances given San Jose’s sloppiness on the ball. They’re ranked dead last in passing accuracy (71.4 percent), and 19th in overall possession (42.5 percent). Could these stats be the recipe for the first Revolution goal of the season on Saturday?
*Here’s a glimpse from last weekend’s Earthquakes-Fire match at the newly-opened Avaya Stadium:
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