MLS Preview: San Jose Earthquakes v. Los angeles Galaxy

San Jose Earthquakes v. Los Angeles Galaxy
When: 10 pm ET
Where: McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA
TV: FSC

The Gist: The venue change to McAfee will boost attendance for the Quakes, but it comes at the cost of losing the great home-field advantage of intimate Buck Shaw Stadium.

Both teams are coming off wins, as the Galaxy downed Colorado at home in a high scoring affair last weekend, while San Jose went to Columbus and earned their second road win of the season. Los Angeles has scored plenty of goals in winning three of their last four games and will benefit from facing a shorthanded Earthquakes defense to continue their recent output.

Why You Should Care: The Galaxy offense will again be without the services of designated players Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz, both away on international duty this week. However, as they showed last week, the role players have done well in deputizing.

David Beckham wasn’t credited with any assists, but the $250 million man set up LA’s first goal and had a foot in the offense all night. Going against San Jose’s defense, which is without James Riley (suspended), Nick Garcia (injury), and the versatile Ivan Guerrero (international duty), Beckham should have chances to delight the large crowd. One other usual Beckham target will be missing, though: Alan Gordon who is suspended. That leaves Edson Buddle, who has four goals and an assist in the Galaxy’s last three wins, the focus of the attack.

San Jose’s offense will be without the speedy Sierra Leonean striker Kei Kamara, but they make up for the loss of pace with Ryan Johnson, who scored last week against the Crew. Jovan Kirovski could also be an interesting option for Frank Yallop to aide in possession, but more likely look for the Quakes attack to play balls over the top of a perpetually vulnerable Galaxy back line.

He’s So Hot Right Now: Ronnie O’Brien. There’s a reason San Jose traded a first round pick for the Irishman. Last week, O’Brien found the heads of Johnson and Ramiro Corrales on set pieces for the two goals in Columbus. However, in a game that will feature a battle of right midfielders, O’Brien will have to outshine Beckham.

Prediction: Los Angeles Galaxy 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1