Despite being in the top six of the league, both FC Los Angeles and the San Jose Earthquakes have not been performing well lately and are in desperate need of a win to boost their morale.
FC Los Angeles lost their midweek derby with the LA Galaxy 1-2 and have lost three straight league games and eight of their last 11, a worrying situation for a defending champion.
Los Angeles' last game drew the largest crowd in the U.S. (82,110), but the team's season was epitomized by the number of missed chances in front of the fans. The team will have to make changes if they are to improve their offensive efficiency and convert their chances into goals.
Denis Bouanga, who has scored 11 goals, has been the mainstay of FC Los Angeles' front line, but he has been in a goal drought lately, scoring just one goal in his last seven games, while Carles Vena has also failed to live up to expectations. The team has conceded a total of seven goals in their last three matches, and the back line is equally porous.
The San Jose Earthquakes, on the other hand, are winless in their last four matches, but drew 2-2 against the LA Galaxy.
Keaston Espinoza equalized for his team, he has helped his team to equalize several times this season, and is expected to be the key player of the game as he has worked well with Ibao Bis, the two of them have produced 16 goals together.
Jaecen Uyere will miss this week's game due to his selection for the U.S. National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Considering that the team has conceded more goals than it has scored, the absence of the defensive midfielder could greatly affect the team's chances of winning the game.
