San Jose Earthquakes vs Colorado Rapids 06/09/20

06 September 2020

The two franchises that have had identical returns from their opening seven MLS rounds of fixtures (W2, D2, L3) will meet at the Avaya Stadium this weekend as San Jose Earthquakes take on Colorado Rapids.

The hosts have suffered a dip in form ahead of this encounter, going from back-to-back MLS wins to two consecutive defeats, with three of those matches seeing over 4.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet. Interestingly, the majority (70%) of the goals scored/conceded across those four games arrived in the second half of play, with each featuring at least one goal coming beyond the 80-minute mark. Also, both of San Jose’s opening MLS home clashes have seen both teams score at least twice, which has never happened in any of their 21 top-flight H2H meetings so far. Despite failing to kick-start their MLS home campaign (D1, L1), the ‘Quakes’ must be confident of winning here after beating Colorado in six of their previous nine top-flight H2Hs held at this venue (D3).

As for the visitors, their blistering start to the season that had seen them secure two successive league triumphs is now a distant memory. Robin Frasers’ men enter this round on a run of five MLS games without a win (D2, L3), conceding over 1.5 goals on four of those occasions. Particularly vulnerable after the break, the ‘Rapids’ have allowed 66.67% (8) of the 12 goals conceded across those five fixtures beyond the 60-minute mark. In turn, eight of their ten MLS goals scored/conceded away from home so far arrived on or beyond the hour mark. In fact, two of the four goals they’ve managed to net on the road came in the final ten minutes of play.