San Jose Earthquakes v Real Salt Lake: Russell targets strong finish at home

Ian Russell says San Jose Earthquakes are determined to get a positive result in their final home game as they welcome Real Salt Lake to PayPal Park in MLS.

San Jose are looking to finish a disappointing season strongly and snapped a five-game winless streak with their 3-2 win over FC Dallas in midweek.

No matter the results in their final two matches, they will finish bottom of the Western Conference, but Russell is determined to give the fans something to celebrate before the end of the season.

“We want to finish the season strong; we know it’s not been a great year,” Russell said.

“We’re not hiding from that, and we want to give the fans something to be happy about in this last home game.

“I can tell you that they will work hard and try to get three points.”

Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake are pushing for the highest position they can, having already secured their playoff place.

They are unbeaten in their last four outings, though they have drawn their previous three matches, including a 0-0 draw with Minnesota United on Wednesday.

With the postseason edging closer, Pablo Mastroeni is looking to tidy up some issues to get the team ready for the playoffs.

“It’s important to improve with every game, and that’s the mindset to have,” Mastroeni said.

“From an offensive standpoint, we need to be more dangerous in the box and threaten back lines more.

“It’s about improving in the areas where you’re efficient, but going into the playoffs we have to be steely defensively, and now we’ve got to make these things happen.”

Next match: Join us this Saturday to celebrate 50 years of Krazy George at our FINAL regular season home game vs. Real Salt Lake! See you all at @PayPalPark!@HabbasLaw | #SJvRSL

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) October 3, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Jose Earthquakes – Cristian Espinoza

Cristian Espinoza recorded his 13th assist of the season on Wednesday, his fourth different MLS regular season with at least 13 assists.

He is one of six players in MLS history with at least four such seasons, joining Carlos Valderrama and Preki (both five), and Carles Gil Luciano Acosta and Landon Donovan (all four).

Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango

Cristian Arango has not scored in any of his last six regular-season appearances for Real Salt Lake, last finding the net in league play on July 6.

This equals Arango’s longest goalscoring drought in MLS play, also failing to score in six straight games in April-May 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN

San Jose have won six of their last nine home matches against Real Salt Lake (D2 L1). RSL’s 4-3 win at PayPal Park in September 2021 is their only win at San Jose since April 2015.

However, San Jose snapped a five-match winless run (D1 L4) with a 3-2 victory over Dallas on Wednesday. It marked the sixth consecutive match, and the 25th time overall the Earthquakes have allowed multiple goals in a match this season, equaling the MLS single-season record set by Orlando City in 2018.

Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake have won only one of their last 12 away matches in all competitions (D6 L5) dating back to the beginning of May. RSL have allowed at least three goals in six of those 12 matches.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Jose Earthquakes – 27.9%

Draw – 24.2%

Real Salt Lake – 47.9%