Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Rapids return home to face struggling Quakes

COL-SJ Week 13

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 13
Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Dick's Sporting Goods Park â€“ Commerce City
September 23 â€“ 9:00 PM ET


STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US


LOCAL TV: Altitude, NBC Sports California


After two wins in three games away from home, the Colorado Rapids return to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to meet the reeling San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday night.


The Rapids (4W-4L-4D) are coming off a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy, while the Earthquakes (2W-5L-5D) fell to the Portland Timbers 6-1 to extend a winless streak to seven games.


This is the second meeting this season, with the teams sharing the points in a 1-1 draw at Earthquakes Stadium September 5. Kei Kamara equalized in the 81st minute after Chris Wondolowski scored the opening goal from the penalty spot. 


Colorado Rapids


Cole Bassett broke a scoreless stalemate late in the first half and Jonathan Lewis put the game away with his fourth goal of the year in the 78th minute to lead the Rapids to a 2-0 win over the Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. Colorado have lost just once in their last six games.


"I was really proud of how they fought through this," coach Robin Fraser said. "This is a good Galaxy team and tough to play against and I thought our guys really hung in there and continued to get better and better as the game went on."

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Kortne Ford (D) - knee injury
    • OUT: Younes Namli (M) - undisclosed injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: Kellyn Acosta (M)
  • International duty: None


San Jose Earthquakes


The struggles, and the lopsided losses, for the Earthquakes are mounting with San Jose dropping a 6-1 result to the Portland Timbers Saturday night. They've been outscored 23-7 in a current seven-match winless streak. 


"We have to have a hard look at ourselves. Today was a very painful loss," said Quakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli during the team's post-match press conference. "We apologize, I apologize for the way we performed today. This is not who we are. We know we can do better.


"We had a long conversation with the players but rather than speaking much today it's going to have to be tomorrow after we have analyzed the game carefully. Then we will come to more in-depth conclusions about what went wrong, and how we have to correct the path. So I don't want to jump to any conclusions tonight other than expressing an apology to the fans, the sponsors and the club in general because this is not who we are."


Fiorenelli was speaking instead of coach Matias Almeyda, who the GM said was suffering from a terrible headache.

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Casey Walls (D) - thigh injury
    • OUT: Guram Kashia (D) - thigh injury
    • OUT: Jacob Akanyirige (D) - thigh injury
    • OUT: Oswaldo Alanis (D) - knee injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: Florian Jungwirth (D)
  • International duty:  None


Series Matchup at Rapids


  • Rapids: 14 wins, 45 goals
  • Earthquakes: 13 wins, 40 goals
  • 8 draws


Officials


  • Referee: Drew Fischer
  • Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Chris Elliott
  • 4th Official: Adam Kilpatrick
  • VAR: Malik Badawi