LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 5/29/21
Los Angeles and San Jose will both be looking to bounce back from losses when they square off on Saturday afternoon. The Galaxy had a two-match winning streak snapped in a 3-0 loss to Portland, but they were down to 10 men for the entire second half. San Jose has now lost its last three matches and has only scored one goal in those losses.
Earthquakes have been inconsistent
San Jose’s season has been up-and-down so far—in that order. The Earthquakes won three straight matches, picking up wins over Dallas, DC United and Real Salt Lake. They have been on a losing skid since then, falling to Seattle, Portland and Sporting Kansas City. Their 3-1 loss last week also marked the lone match that they scored during that stretch. The goal came in the fourth minute, but the defense would surrender three consecutive goals over the course of the match. San Jose has been sliding in the power rankings, dropping from eighth to No. 17 in the latest ESPN update.
One fault of San Jose over the last few seasons has been the inability to compete with the teams at the top of the conference. That trend appears to be continuing in 2021. Manager Matias Almeyda’s team has surrendered six goals in their last three matches and has only scored once. The Earthquakes did pick up a 4-0 win in the last meeting between these teams in 2020. Veteran Chris Wondolowski will be hoping to find the back of the net after a goal-less drought. He is facing a Los Angeles back line that has struggled.
Galaxy ends up shorthanded and loses to Timbers
Los Angeles had picked up consecutive wins over LAFC and Austin FC prior to last week’s match. Things turned ugly 44 minutes into the scoreless match when center back Derrick Williams upended Portland forward Andy Polo, who appeared to suffer a serious leg injury. Williams was sent off with a red card and sparked some comment on social media, including one from Timbers owner Merritt Paulson. Portland took advantage of the extra man in the second half, netting three goals. The Galaxy had a possession advantage for most of the first half, but they fell off quickly. Portland scored two minutes into the second half and then added two more in the 60th and 69th minute.
The Galaxy are currently in third place in the Western Conference, but they are also one of four teams in the conference with a negative goal differential. They fell to ninth in the MLS.com power rankings following last week’s loss. Los Angeles has been an excellent home team this season, where it has won all three of its matches. It has scored seven times in those three victories. However, defense has been an issue for the club throughout the season. The Galaxy have surrendered 11 goals in six matches and have just one clean sheet. They have a 38-32-17 lead in the all-time series against San Jose. Javier Hernandez has scored five of his seven goals at home.
Side: (Galaxy +102)
San Jose has been one of the worst teams in the MLS over the last three weeks. Its defense is struggling mightily and its offense has only netted one goal in those three losses. This is all about how good Los Angeles has been at home. The Galaxy are undefeated in their home stadium and have been scoring tons of goals. They have not been good defensively, but they are facing a team with a struggling offense. This matchup sets up nicely for them from a scheduling standpoint and a lineup standpoint.
Total: Over 2.5
If you are looking for an exciting match, take the over and sit back to watch this game on Saturday afternoon. Los Angeles has been one of the best home teams in the MLS this season and has been pouring in goals. Hernandez has scored in all three of his home matches. The Galaxy also have a lot of defensive issues, so San Jose should be able to snap out of its scoring drought. Wondolowski and Hernandez have both been given good odds to find the net on Saturday. The Earthquakes scored four goals the last time they faced Los Angeles.
Teaser
Javier Hernandez has scored in all three of the Galaxy’s home matches this season. Can he continue his streak on Saturday afternoon?
