San Jose Earthquakes Vs Kansas City Wizards: Head To Head Preview

On Form

San Jose Earthquakes: It has been a good run for the Earthquakes in the 2010 season, but their deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball are beginning to haunt them. It became apparent when the Quakes couldn’t score a goal in an exhibition match (0-0 vs. Tottenham Hotspur) that was up and down, but they followed that with 1-0 losses to Seattle, at home, and Colorado, on the road. At least they are still playing solid defensively.

Kansas City Wizards: The Wizards know that there is little room for error if they want to reach the playoffs this year. There’s a lot of pressure on the Wizards but they keep proving that it´s nothing that they can´t handle. Last Saturday the Wizards were able to walk away with a point against the reigning MLS champs, Real Salt Lake. Giving credit where it´s due Kansas City´s newfound success would not have been possible without Jimmy Nielsen. It seems repetitive to continuously praise the goalkeeper but he is so good at his job. Nielsen made some huge saves against RSL. Although it wasn't a complete shutout, Nielsen played an impressive game. Another player that had an impressive night against RSL was Ryan Smith. Smith made his seventh assist of the season. The Forward has proven to be dependable and extremely talented.

Off Target

San Jose: When the Earthquakes signed Jon Busch as a keeper, he was seen as a younger, more athletic goalkeeper. After a couple bad outing by Joe Cannon (just before the World Cup break) Busch took over as starter. Busch, of course, was the reason why the Earthquakes lost, allowing an own goal to the Rapids off an Omar Cummings cross. Is Busch really deserving as the starter? Maybe. We’ll see the follow up performance on Saturday against Kansas City.

Kansas City: The Wizards continue to suffer in the offensive department. They have only scored 15 goals in 18 games. The Wizards have scored first in their last four games but they can´t seem to score more than once in the same game. They have to work on creating more goal scoring opportunities. The Wizards new unbeaten streak is mainly due to a good defensive performance and not to their goal scoring abilities. They need to work harder in getting the ball to the back of the net.

San Jose: Still riding with the 4-4-2 formation is coach Frank Yallop. The only difference, the personnel keeps changing. Injuries and new pick-ups are causing Yallop to change things up on the fly. Yallop would be better suited to put another striker, or a fifth midfielder and one less defender to press the issue.

Kansas City: Craig Rocastle has made a place for himself in the starting lineup. Rocastle has teamed up really well with Stephane Auvray. Auvray was another player that had a good performance against RSL. Auvray and Rocastle provided a good defensive cover. The Wizards do not lack defensive cover they lack offensive power. Coach Peter Vermes has to switch things up until they find a formula that works offensively.

Intangibles

San Jose: One positive to take from this recent string of games for the Earthquakes, they still have a game in hand over every team in the MLS except for the Eastern Conference’s New England Revolution. San Jose, if they can get their home-field advantage back -- and their overall swagger back altogether -- could gain some ground on teams just in front of them -- Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC.

Kansas City: The Wizards keep creeping their way up the MLS standings. They are only a point away from being tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They know that they have to continue to play well in order to have any chance in making it to the playoffs.  There is no greater incentive for the Wizards then earning a spot in the playoffs.

Outcome

San Jose: This is everything but a must win at this point for the Quakes. If they have real aspirations to make it to the postseason for the first time since rejoining MLS in 2008, they need to begin to set the groundwork now. That said, I haven’t seen anything of late to make me feel San Jose will do that, especially now that there are different players in different spots. Kansas City 1 - 0 San Jose.

Kansas City: It’s an away game for the Wizards but they know its crunch time and they have to earn points whenever possible. Nielsen is a machine and will undoubtedly be blocking everything that comes his way. I predict 1-0 Kansas City. The Wizards know the taste of success and it will be extremely difficult to beat them.