San Jose Earthquakes vs. DC United Prediction, Preview and Odds - 5/1/21
San Jose Earthquakes vs DC United San Jose is 6th in the Western Conference following its first two matches of the MLS regular-season. The Earthquakes are 1-0-1 on three points with a +1 goal difference. San Jose opened with a 2-1 loss on the road to the Houston Dynamo and followed that with a 3-1 victory at home over FC Dallas. In San Jose’s victory over Dallas, 17-year-old Cade Cowell scored his first goal and added an assist as the club's new starting striker. Oswaldo Alanis scored from the spot and Christian Espinoza added a goal during the second half for San Jose.
DC United is sixth in the Eastern Conference at 1-0-1 on three points with a 0 goal difference. DC United opened the regular season with a 2-1 victory at home over New York City FC but followed that with a 1-0 loss on the road against the New England Revolution. In DC United's opening victory over New York City FC, Russell Canouse and Brendan Hines-Ike each scored one goal for DC United. In the loss to New England, an own goal by DC’s Hines-Ike was the only goal and United could not answer back in the second half.
Cowell Fueling San Jose
San Jose's Cade Cowell is just 17 years old but the youngster has already made four starts in the MSL with 3 coming last season. San Jose opted not to sign anyone to replace Danny Hoesen, which opened the door for Cowell to become the starting center forward in just his second campaign with the club. Cowell not only is an above-average goal scorer but was able to send a diagonal through ball to Espinoza who chipped his shot over FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer for the third San Jose goal.
Dating back to last season, San Jose has two wins and three losses over its last five matches played in the MLS. The Earthquakes have enjoyed victories over FC Dallas and LAFC, while losing to Houston, Sporting Kansas City and Seattle. Both victories by San Jose have been on their home pitch, where the Earthquakes will play on Saturday.
DC United Defense is Tough to Beat
DC United is allowing an average of just 1.00 goals per game through the first two matches of the regular season. United keeper Chris Seitz has allowed one goal through two matches with the only other goal registered against DC being an own goal by teammate Brendan Hines-Ike. In the first two matches of the regular season, DC United has faced 17 shots with only five on goal and Setiz has stopped four of the five.
Brendan Hines-Ike and Russell Canouse each have scored one goal for DC United through the first two matches and Julian Gressel and Junior Moreno each has one assist for DC. DC United has a passing accuracy of just 66.5%, has taken 12 corners and has been assessed 34 fouls that included five yellow cards.
Side: San Jose Earthquakes -110
San Jose is tough to beat at home. The Earthquakes defeated FC Dallas at home last Saturday in their first home match of the season and their only other victory in the last five matches played was also at home against LAFC. San Jose has scored three goals in each of its last two matches at home and is allowing an average of 1.50 goals per game over those same two matches at home. Seventeen-year-old American Cade Cowell is becoming not only a big scoring threat but also has shown a canny ability to pass to open teammates that makes life very difficult for the backline of opponents playing the Earthquakes.
Total: Over 2.5
San Jose scores goals at home as the Earthquakes have scored three goals in each of their last two matches on their home pitch. In DC United's first match of the season, three goals were scored in a victory over New York City FC and although the DC United offense has not been up to par with just an average of 1.00 goal per match, DC will be facing a San Jose club that has allowed an average of 1.5 goals per match through the first two this season.
