San Jose Earthquakes Vs Colorado Rapids

Posted Thursday, April 29, 2010 by Goal.com

Bay Area battle.

On Form

San Jose Earthquakes: Despite traveling down to SoCal and dropping a 3-2 game to the lesser Chivas USA, the Quakes showed that their grit is there, and that they will fight teams to the last whistle. With the game basically in the bag in stoppage time, Steve Beitashour earned his first MLS goal. The offense is clicking, but the defense could use a bit more consistency.

Colorado: Colorado’s three wins in five games have the team sitting pretty in second place in the Western Conference. They’ve won at home and on the road. No side has scored more goals (8) than the Rapids this season.
Individually, team captain Pablo Mastroeni earned Goal.com MLS Player of the Week honors for his performance in a 2-1 win over New England last Saturday. Mastroeni controlled the midfield for the Rapids and scored the game-winning goal.

Off Target

San Jose Earthquakes: With all the injuries going through the Earthquakes roster, there seems to be a changing of the guard with whom the offense runs through. Beitashour and Chris Wondolowski scored goals in last week’s loss to Chivas, and the 17-year-old Omar Jasseh became the youngest player to step on the field in a Quakes uniform. It’s probably not the end of the road for the Arturo Alvarez’s, Ryan Johnsons and Cornell Glens of the world, but the Quakes have options if they do lose them for extended periods of time.

Colorado:There’s not a lot to complain about for a team that’s won its last two games by a combined score of 5-1. One nagging issue however is the form of Conor Casey, who scored the second-most goals in the league last season with 16. Though Casey has three goals in 2010, all have been on penalties.

Tactics

San Jose Earthquakes: Not much should change from last week to this week in Frank Yallop’s lineup. Personnel may differ -- Arturo Alvarez should be a go for his 150th appearance in the MLS -- but the formation should stick to a 4-4-2. The Quakes offense has been producing in this formation. One thing that may change is the use of a holding midfielder for a fifth defender in the box when the Rapids pressure the goal.

Colorado: The Quakes have a 1.75 goals against average this season, tied for third-worst in MLS. Look for Rapids head coach Gary Smith to release the hounds and attempt to score early and often. As mentioned previously, Casey has not had a goal in the run of play yet. This game looks to be a great opportunity for him to end that drought.

Intangibles

San Jose Earthquakes: Late in the 2009 season, the Earthquakes and Rapids met twice in five days, finishing with the same result twice. What was interesting was that Conor Casey tied the game late for Colorado with a PK goal -- both times. It left a sour taste in the Quakes’ collective mouth, and no doubt, they’ll have those outcomes in the back of their minds when they take to the pitch at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., this weekend.

Colorado: While Colorado have been riding a wave of momentum, San Jose have been a model of inconsistency. The Quakes have given up three goals to both Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, but showed grit in pulling out a road win in Chicago and taking care of business at home against New England. Given their poor defensive form, San Jose may lose confidence if they don’t get the first goal.

Outcome

San Jose Earthquakes: A return home should help the Earthquakes get back to form. That said, Colorado still sports a better team, with more experience. The game will be tightly contested, but the Rapids will take it in the end, winning a second consecutive road match (2-1 at New England on 4/24), 2-1.

Colorado: San Jose 1-2 Colorado. While the Quakes have been sneaky good at times this season, their back line doesn’t have an answer for an offensive talent of the likes of Casey. Mastroeni will return the favor from last week and assist on at least one Casey score.