Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes: 10 Bold Predictions
Jul 2, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes fans during the second half against Chivas USA at Buck Shaw Stadium. Chivas USA defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA, after a tough 2-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake, will be closing the books on what has been a mostly fruitless decade of existence in Major League Soccer when they face the San Jose Earthquakes, who will be under a new boss in Dominic Kinnear next season. Sunday, Oct. 26, regardless of the outcome, is sure to be a historic day as the sun officially sets on the Goats. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE.
Here are 10 Bold Predictions for Sunday afternoon’s showdown between Chivas USA and the San Jose Earthquakes.
1. At least 50 fouls and four cards
With not much to play for except pride and perhaps careers, the physicality of this match will be there. In a glorified pillow fight between two bottom dwellers of the MLS Western Conference, the MLS Multiplex boldly predicts for at least 50 fouls whistled and four cards issued.
2. A player will be sent off
In fact, the physical nature of this contest will be so strong that it’s going to force the man in the middle to pull a card from his back pocket. The Plex boldly predicts that a player will be sent off from this match.
3. Chivas USA will not score
Chivas USA will go out with a whimper, and not with a bang. In a contest that will be a microcosm of their entire history, the Goats will not score once at StubHub Center.
4. Dan Kennedy with at least five saves
The lone bright spot for Chivas USA is goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, who is a competent keeper on a really bad team. Kennedy will make at least five saves against the Earthquakes.
5. Jon Busch with under five saves
As for Kennedy’s counterpart, Quakes netminder Jon Busch, he will make saves as well, just not as many. Busch is boldly predicted by the MLS Multiplex to make under five saves.
6. Chris Wondolowski will score
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Chris Wondolowski leads the team in goals with 14 goals and will get on the scoresheet on Sunday. It’s been a tough year for Wondo, but at least San Jose’s main man has been guiding the ship to the finish. Watch for Wondolowski to reach 15 goals for the year.
7. Tommy Thompson: a shining light for the future
Tommy Thompson has yet to score a goal in Major League Soccer, but he will get his chance to make an impact and perhaps push for a starting position next year. Thompson will score in the second half for San Jose.
8. Shea Salinas with two assists
This season, Shea Salinas has eight assists to lead the San Jose Earthquakes. Salinas is boldly predicted to hit double figures in assists with a couple of assists against Chivas USA.
9. Yannick Djalo will score
A big question that will need to be answered is whether or not Yannick Djalo will return to the Quakes next season. Even if he scores in this match, which the Plex is predicting he will do, Djalo will be at the mercy of the brains trust as to whether or not he is back with San Jose for the long haul.
10. San Jose reads last rites on Chivas USA
The San Jose Earthquakes will be looking to the future when they take care of things against Chivas USA. With their new stadium nearly finished and the hosts soon to fade out of existence, there has never been a better time to be optomistic about the future of the Goonies, who, as the old saying goes, never die.
San Jose Earthquakes 3, Chivas USA 0