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MLS Week 6: Top 6 storylines – Can Sporting KC recover?

By Joshua Bowers

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: James Sands (16) of New York City FC battles for the ball against Alejandro Pozuelo (10) of Toronto FC during the first half of the MLS regular season match between Toronto FC and New York City FC on March 29, 2019, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: James Sands (16) of New York City FC battles for the ball against Alejandro Pozuelo (10) of Toronto FC during the first half of the MLS regular season match between Toronto FC and New York City FC on March 29, 2019, at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 31: Diego Valeri #8 of Portland Timbers and Sebastian Lletget #17 of Los Angeles Galaxy fight for control of the ball during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on March 31, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 31: Diego Valeri #8 of Portland Timbers and Sebastian Lletget #17 of Los Angeles Galaxy fight for control of the ball during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on March 31, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /

3. Bottom of the barrel get desperate

The San Jose Earthquakes are once again the worst team in the league.

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They have lost four-straight to start the season. The Earthquakes have scored two goals, fewest in the league, while giving up fourteen goals, the most in the league. This is despite the offseason hiring of former Guadalajara manager, Matias Almeyda. Almeyda has urged patience, as the team needs time before they can take a step forward in MLS.

This week, San Jose host the Portland Timbers. The Timbers were the runners-up in the 2018 MLS Cup, losing to Atlanta United FC. They have had a very poor start to the 2019 season, notching just a single point and are winless in four matches. The reason for Portland’s slow start is not known. They retained the bulk of the squad that went to MLS Cup last year. However, they have failed to get consistency out of their backline.

Portland have been rumored to be searching for a new attacker in the form of a designated player. Nothing has come to fruition though. For his part, 22-year-old Jeremy Ebobisse has scored two goals in three starts this season. The attack already features Ebobisse, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco, and Andy Polo. A new attacker would certainly be helpful; Lucas Melano does not look like an answer off the bench. However, the defense is a larger problem than the attack right now.

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