Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Preview and How to Watch

The San Jose Earthquakes are looking for their third straight win on their first road trip, while Sporting Kansas City is still looking for their first goal.

Few people would have expected Sporting Kansas City to be a part of two scoreless draws this season. SKC had their home opener in front of a usual sellout crowd but were unable to breakdown a bunkering FC Dallas. 180 shutout minutes is great, but there is a lot of pressure on Kansas City now they’re only one of four teams yet to find the back of the net.

Even fewer would have correctly predicted San Jose with six points after two matches. Last week the Earthquakes won MLS’ weekly ‘game that no one saw but it was bananas’ game, a 3-2 win over Vancouver. After four first half goals and a red card to Vancouver’s David Ousted, San Jose took advantage and got a second half game winner from Anibal Godoy.

Sporting Kansas City

Peter Vermes must be absolutely exhausted talking about Sporting’s scoring woes to start the season. Teams coached by Vermes haven’t been shutout in three consecutive regular season matches since Sporting was the Kansas City Wizards. SKC has a potent group of attacking players so it will interesting to see if they can create chances or will be pressing through out the match.

Defensively, Sporting will want more of the same. The Graham Zusi at right back experiment has been successful so far. Tim Melia has been huge in goal, and the Peter Vermes has finally been getting minutes from the centerback pairing he wants. Having Ike Opara heathy has been very important for their success.

Not only has Sporting not changed their Starting XI this year, they have only made uakesone substitution thus far. The only change that wouldn’t be a big surprise would be if Vermes decides he needs Zusi back in the attack, and slots Saad Abdul-Salaam in at right back. If not expect this starting lineup again.

San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose has been one of the quiet surprises of 2017 so far. Dom Kinnear has his squad playing well early as they have six points over Canadian opposition already. However, this is their first first road trip of the season and they will be without David Bingham who is on USMNT duty.

San Jose has gotten six points in large part to the success of Godoy and Nick Lima. Both scored last week, and Godoy’s was an absolute rocket.

Lima has been one of the most successful rookies in MLS this year, it will be important to keep an eye on how he performs under the pressure of his first road game.

The starting line up for San Jose will look a little different due to national team call ups. Sub in Andrew Tarbell for Bingham, Godoy will be with the Panamanian National Team. Kip Colvey and Harold Cummings have also been called up but were not in the 18 for their first two matches.

Prediction

Sporting KC is under a lot of pressure to score goals, and San Jose will be without their starting keeper in their first road game of the season. Nick Lima has had a fantastic first two games and will continue to be a solid player for them, but he can still show some rookie growing pains in front of a hostile environment.

Next: Winningest MLS Franchises in League History

How to Watch

Saturday March 18, 8:30 p.m. (ET), Children’s Mercy Park

Nationwide: MLS LIVE

Kansas City: FOX SPORTS KC

San Jose: CSN PLUS