San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 8/17/21
San Jose Earthquakes vs Minnesota United
San Jose had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday and have posted draws in six of the last eight matches played in the MLS. San Jose’s other two matches during that stretch ended in victories. On Tuesday, the Earthquakes will play without Matt Bersano, Benji Kikanovic, Jacob Akanyirige, Luciano Abecasis and Tommy Thompson.
Minnesota was defeated by LA Galaxy 1-0 at home on Saturday. Minnesota took 21 shots with only six on target, while holding LA Galaxy to just 10 shots but the only one on target scored for the winners. Prior to the loss on Saturday, Minnesota was unbeaten in five consecutive matches and last lost on July 7 to the Colorado Rapids 2-0. On Monday, Minnesota will play without Franco Fragapane while Michael Boxall and Jacori Hayes are both questionable.
San Jose Not Losing, but Needs More than Draws
The San Jose Earthquakes are ninth in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 5-7-7, 22 points and a -6 goal difference. San Jose is unbeaten in each of its last 8 matches but during that stretch the Earthquakes have taken only 12 points out of a possible 24 due to six of the eight matches ending in draws. The Earthquakes have played to 1-1 draws in four of the last seven matches.
The leading goal scorer for San Jose this season is Javier Lopez with five, while Cade Cowell has scored four. Cristian Espinoza has six assists to lead the Earthquakes and Cowell has four. JT Marcinkowski has played in each of San Jose's 19 matches this season in the MLS and has allowed 24 goals for an average of 1.26 goals per match, while San Jose has scored 21 goals and is averaging only 1.11 goals per match.
Minnesota Losing Touch with Top Four
Minnesota United is in fifth place in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 7-5-6, 26 points and a -1 goal difference. Prior to losing to LA Galaxy on Saturday, Minnesota has lost only one of its previous 13 matches. The club had seven victories and five draws after starting the season with four consecutive defeats. However, with the loss to the Galaxy, Minnesota fell five points behind fourth-place Colorado.
The leading goal scorer for Minnesota is Robin Lod and six teammates have each scored two. Emanuel Reynoso, Franco Fragapane and Lod have each posted three assists to lead Minnesota. Fragapane is injured and will not play Tuesday. Minnesota keeper Tyler Miller posted his sixth shutout of the season in a victory over Houston a week ago Saturday, but suffered the loss to LA this past Saturday. Miller has appeared in 14 of Minnesota's 18 MLS matches and has allowed just 12 goals
Pick: Draw +240
Seven of San Jose's last 11 matches have ended in a draw. The first time these two MLS Western Conference rivals met this season was on July 3 and the result in Minnesota was a 2-2 draw. Over the last 10 matches these two have played in their respective MLS schedules, five have ended in a draw. Both San Jose and Minnesota has strong backlines and goalkeepers and goals will come at a premium in this matchup on Tuesday. Minnesota could be slightly leg-weary as the club will have only two days' rest between matches.
Total: under
The total has finished under the 2.5 goals per match threshold for San Jose in six of the last seven matches. Minnesota goalkeeper Tyler Miller has posted six clean sheets in 14 matches played this season. Miller has allowed just 12 goals in 14 matches for an average of just 0.85 per match. San Jose is allowing an average of only 1.26 goals per match but the Earthquakes are scoring even less at an average of 1.11 goals per match.
