San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City Prediction, Preview and Odds - 5/22/21
Two clubs in the top 5 of the MLS Western Conference kick off on Saturday in a match day 7 MLS fixture. The San Jose Earthquakes are fifth in the conference standings at 3-0-3 on 9 points with a +2 goal difference. San Jose's most recent outing in the MLS finished with a 2-0 loss at home to the Portland Timbers last Saturday. San Jose took 20 shots but only four were on target, while Portland took 18 shots with 5 on target and three saved. San Jose has lost each of its last three matches after opening the season with three consecutive victories.
Sporting Kansas City is 3rd in the conference standings at 3-1-2 on 10 points with a +2 goal difference. Sporting Kansas City routed the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on Sunday in their most recent MLS fixture. Daniel Sallio opened the scoring for Sporting KC in the 28th minute and Alan Pulido added a brace with a goal from the spot in the 32nd minute and a second goal in the 58th minute. Sporting Kansas City is two points behind second-place is LA Galaxy and six points behind the conference-leading Seattle Sounders.
San Jose offense has disappeared
The San Jose Earthquakes opened the regular season with three consecutive victories allowing only one in each of the victories while scoring an average of 3.00 goals per match. However, over the last three matches, all ending in losses, San Jose has been held to just one goal, has been shut out in each of the last two and is allowing an average of 2.00 goals per match. In six matches played, San Jose has taken 85 shots but only 36 have been on target.
The Earthquakes have had two consecutive scoreless matches against Portland and Seattle. The leading goal scorers for San Jose with two goals apiece are Chris Wondolowski, Cade Cowell and Jackson Yueill. Four other players for San Jose have each scored one goal. Cowell has three assists to lead San Jose and four other players have each posted one assist. However, due to a lack of scoring during the last three matches played, San Jose is scoring an average of only 1.50 goals per game and the Earthquakes are allowing an average of 1.33 goals per game
Sporting KC backline and keeper hard to beat
Sporting KC is third in the Western Conference and has won two of its last three matches. Much of the recent success is thanks to strong play from the back line and goalkeepers. Sporting KC shutout Vancouver in its most recent match on Sunday after allowing one goal and losing on the road to the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. Sporting KC has allowed just 7 goals through six matches in MLS play.
The Sporting KC attack has also been quite strong this season. Sporting KC has been held scoreless just once in a loss to Houston. Sporting KC is scoring an average of 1.50 goals per match, while allowing an average of just 1.67 goals per match. Alan Pulido leads all scorers for Sporting Kansas City with three goals, while both Daniel Salloi and Gadi Kinda have each scored two goals. The leader in assists with 2 is Khiry Shelton, while Johnny Russell, Salloi and Kinda have each posted one assist.
Side:Sporting Kansas City +162
San Jose has been held scoreless in three consecutive matches with all three of the matches played on its home pitch, where they will be on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City. Sporting Kansas City has not fared well on the road this season with two losses in three matches, but is coming off a big 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at home and behind the excellent play up front of Alan Pulido will put pressure on the leaky back line of the Earthquakes that has allowed two goals in two of the last three matches played.
Total: Over 3
San Jose and Sporting Kansas City are each averaging 1.50 goals per match which adds up to more than the traditional 2.5 goals per match for wagering purposes. Sporting Kansas City scored three goals in their most recent outing against Vancouver. The total has finished over 2.5 goals in 4 of San Jose's matches this season and in four of Sporting KC’s six matches this season.