Quakes hoping to be SoCal spoilers
San Jose looking to close season with victories over Chivas, Los Angeles
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It's a match that will have little impact on the MLS playoff race. The Quakes have already been eliminated while Chivas has clinched a spot in the postseason. But Chivas, who are currently tied for first place in the West with Houston and L.A., still has designs on claiming the conference title, and the home-field advantage that comes with it.
As for San Jose, they're intent on continuing their run of improved play, one that has seen them go 2-1-3 in their last six games.
"Any time you go up against the better teams in the league -- and [that's] Chivas and L.A. this season -- you want to beat them," said San Jose manager Frank Yallop. "It will feel good if we can go down there and get results in both games."
Yet the Quakes will find themselves once again shorthanded. Their list of injuries, one that already included midfielders Darren Huckerby and Andre Luiz, has lengthened considerably. Defender Jason Hernandez and forward Chris Wondolowski each underwent season-ending surgery on Thursday; Hernandez for a torn deltoid ligament in his left ankle, and Wondolowski for a torn LCL in his right knee.
Cornell Glen, who scored a stoppage-time equalizer last week against Toronto, has also seen his season come to a premature end. He'll undergo surgery next week to fix a chronic knee problem that was aggravated in training earlier this week.
The good news is that the trio of international players who missed both of last week's matches should be available. Arturo Alvarez is expected to partner Ryan Johnson up top, while Simon Elliott and Ramon Sanchez are expected to resume their partnership in the center of midfield.
As for the back, Bobby Burling will not only continue to deputize for the oft-injured Hernandez, but he'll be looking to put one over on the club that traded him to San Jose in mid-September. The game will mark the first time that Burling has ever gone up against a former team, be it at the club, high school, college, or professional level. Yet the Quakes defender feels that his ability to acclimate quickly means any nerves on Saturday will be kept to a minimum.
"It was awkward and weird at first, but now that's gone and done with. I've settled in nice up here," said Burling about the trade. "All the guys have been real welcoming, [as has] the organization and the coaching staff. It will be different going back down there, dressing in a different locker room, but I'm looking forward to it."
Of course, Chivas have had their own injury problems, with new addition Maicon Santos just the latest to run afoul of the Red-and-White's virulent injury bug. He's listed as questionable for Saturday's match with a right knee injury. But the biggest reason for their current five-game unbeaten streak is the improved play of midfielder Sacha Kljestan, who has emerged from a near season-long funk to once again become the focal point of the Chivas attack.
"The one thing with Sacha is confidence," said Burling. "He's been playing with more confidence lately. He's going to run the whole game; he's one of the fittest guys on that team. So we have to keep an eye on him, and definitely around the box with those slicing runs off the ball. And when you get him on the ball, he's always looking to put passes through."
If the Quakes can put a muzzle on Kljestan, as well as the rest of the Chivas attack, then they should be able to have a bright beginning to their L.A. story.
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
