San Jose Earthquakes vs Atlanta United Predictions

Thanks to New York Red Bulls failure to beat DC United on Sunday, Atlanta United remain top of the Eastern Conference heading into Thursday’s trip to San Jose. The hosts were well beaten by Sporting KC at the weekend and remain rock bottom of the Western Conference, while that victory saw the Kansas club move into the top spot ahead of Dallas.

San Jose Earthquakes had the home advantage in last weekends match against Sporting KC, though you would never have been able to tell as the visitors ran out convincing 5-1 winners. Gutiérrez got the ball rolling for Sporting KC in the eighteenth minute with the games opening goal, and five minutes later Gerso Fernandes doubled the visitors advantage.

Opara scored the killer third goal three minutes before the half time break to end any faint hopes the SJ Earthquakes faithful had of a comeback. The second half didn’t produce a goal until the sixty-seventh minute and this time Hungarian striker Németh got his name on the scoreboard with the visitors fourth goal of the afternoon.

SJ Earthquakes top scorer Hoesen ended his goal draught with ten minutes left on the clock, but by that stage it was always going to be a mere consolation strike. The visitors had the final say though when Fernandes scored his second of the game late on to wrap up a 5-1 win that helped Sporting KC move to the top of the Western Conference.

The scoreline probably didn’t do the hosts justice as going forward SJ Earthquakes always looked dangerous, producing ten corners, five shots on target, and six that went wide of the mark. One of the few positives to come out of last weekends game for SJ Earthquakes is that their Dutch striker Hoesen finally moved off ten MLS goals for the season after going eleven matches without a goal, and the former Ajax man will be hoping to end the season in good form.

Atlanta United scored three goals without reply away at Colorado Rapids last weekend, but for the second game on the run, record breaking top goalscorer Martínez failed to find the back of the net. Almirón scored twice inside the first eighteen minutes for the visitors and after Villalba added a third in the thirty-seventh minute this game was over and Atlanta United could take their foot off the gas during the second forty-five.

Colorado Rapids made a change at the break and saw a lot more of the ball in the second half, but still they failed to break down a resolute Atlanta defence and the visitors ran out 3-0 winners. That victory and New York RB failure to beat DC United last weekend meant that Atlanta United moved back to the top of the Eastern Conference, but the longer their top scorer goes without a goal the less chance Atlanta have of winning the play-offs.

Martínez is just two goals away from scoring thirty league goals in a single season, which isn’t bad for a player that set his own personal record last season for Atlanta when he scored fourteen goals, the first time the Venezuelan had reached double figures in his career.

We’re confident that Atlanta United will win on Thursday and that over 2.5 goals will be scored in the process. Atlanta United have won four of their last six matches, while SJ Earthquakes have lost four of their last six matches. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in all of Atlanta United’s last six matches and in five of SJ Earthquakes last six matches, which is why were expecting at least three goals from this game. As for a final score, we’re going with a 3-1 win for the visitors, but it could be more if Martinez finds his scoring boots.