Bitesize Prediction: San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo – 18/07/24

Competition: MLS

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 4/7 @ Pribet

In what could prove to be an action-packed MLS showdown in the early hours of Thursday, San Jose will welcome Houston to PayPal Park.

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to losing ways last weekend as they slumped to a 2-1 loss at home against Sporting KC, San Jose have continued on a major MLS rut since opening up the 2024 campaign. Signing off June with a thumping 3-0 defeat at the hands of LA Galaxy, the Goonies sit rock-bottom of the Western Conference table and have already written off any chance of booking a play-off ticket. Including a woeful 6-2 loss against Los Angeles last month, interim boss Ian Russell has seen his downbeat squad lose seven of their previous eight MLS showdowns. With that that extended crisis stemming all the way back to a 1-1 stalemate against Aston on May 26th, San Jose have also continued to gain a reputation for their glaring defensive issues. Crashing out of the US Open Cup on May 22nd following a 4-3 defeat against USL outfit Sacramento Republic, Thursday’s hosts have also conceded 58 MLS strikes so far this season.

As for the visitors, although Houston might have signed off June with a stellar 4-1 romp away at DC United, the Dynamos do have the feel of a squad seeking some recent stability. Forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at home against Minnesota last weekend, Ben Olsen’s men have registered just a pair of wins from any of their previous seven MLS appearances. With that inconsistent spell stemming back to a 3-1 victory against Colorado on May 30th, Thursday’s guests have also collected consecutive wins on just a single occasion since the end of March. Desperate to widen their buffer in the play-off chase, the Texas-based outfit are also looking to find some recent defensive resolve. In fact, Olsen’s camp have recorded just a sole clean sheet since way back on May 5th. It should be highlighted, with Houston seeing all of their last five away fixtures finish with both teams getting on the scoresheet, we are expecting a similar outcome here.

Bet: Both teams to score at San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo 4/7 for Thursday’s MLS showdown @ Pribet