FC Cincinnati vs. San Jose Earthquakes - prediction, team news, lineups

While their existent signifier whitethorn represent thing different, 2 comparatively high-flying MLS sides, FC Cincinnati and San Jose Earthquakes, look disconnected astatine TQL Stadium connected Saturday successful the competition's 18th round.

FC Cincy, seventh successful the Eastern Conference, person claimed conscionable 2 wins successful 5 up of welcoming the off-form third-placed broadside successful the Western Conference, who participate this play connected a tally of 1 triumph successful their past 7 fixtures.

Match preview

When FCC thought they were connected the verge of claiming 3 MLS wins connected the rotation this season, they were handed a decision by the Columbus Crew past clip out.

Pat Noonan's squad person claimed six wins since the commencement of the regular play successful February, but their longest winning streak stands astatine two: victories implicit the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire successful April-May and triumphs implicit Orlando City and the Vancouver Whitecaps successful May-July.

Noonan whitethorn person hoped for the champion aft Kevin Denkey enactment his squad up aft 9 minutes, but acquainted failings reared their disfigured head, with the Orange and Blue conceding doubly earlier the interruption to autumn to defeat.

Those concessions past clip retired mean that FCC person not kept a cleanable expanse successful 7 MLS rounds going backmost to April's 2-0 occurrence implicit the New York Red Bulls, with the team's lone different shutout coming successful the opening circular successful February.

Further highlighting the Knifey Lions' antiaircraft weakness is however they person fto successful 2 goals oregon much during the ongoing seven-match run, notably conceding 5 successful a 5-3 nonaccomplishment to Inter Miami, arsenic good arsenic 3 successful a 4-3 triumph implicit Vancouver and a 3-3 gully with San Diego FC.

As such, a wildly breathtaking lucifer is astir guaranteed successful Ohio erstwhile San Jose sojourn this weekend.

The third-placed broadside successful the West person mostly thrived nether Bruce Arena, having finished 10th successful their conception successful 2025's regular season, thereby failing to marque the playoffs.

However, the Goonies, similar their hosts, are clean-sheet shy heading into Saturday's 18th round, with the team's past shutout coming successful aboriginal April.

Since beating San Diego 3-0 astatine their California base, Arena's squad person conceded successful 11 consecutive MLS matchdays, and strikingly participate this play connected a tally of 1 triumph successful seven.

Still, the Quakes beryllium level connected 33 points with Western Conference-leading Vancouver and Los Angeles FC, portion having a seven-point buffer connected fourth-placed Salt Lake, further accentuating the value of their beardown commencement of 9 wins successful 10 earlier their existent dip.

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:

San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer form:

San Jose Earthquakes signifier (all competitions):

Team News

After his dismissal against Columbus, Gerardo Valenzuela is suspended for this weekend's sojourn of San Jose, portion Matt Miazga's booking successful the aforesaid fixture means the centre-back is 1 much caution distant from serving a ban.

With his extremity successful the erstwhile round, Denkey has present recovered the backmost of the nett successful consecutive MLS fixtures arsenic good arsenic the past six competitory and non-competitive games for nine and country, and the 11-goal MLS antheral aims to beryllium connected people connected Saturday.

Closely pursuing Denkey is Evander, caller disconnected his extremity successful the MLS All-Stars' 4-3 triumph implicit the Liga MX All-Stars connected Wednesday, and the attacking midfielder volition backmost himself to adhd to his 10 league strikes oregon 8 assists against San Jose.

Unlike their hosts, who person a cleanable measure of health, Arena has a fewer wounded worries heading into the 18th matchday, with Nonso Adimabua, Earl Edwards Jr, DeJuan Jones and Niko Tsakiris each missing.

While Cincinnati person Denkey and Evander to spot for goals, Preston Judd remains the lone subordinate connected the visiting broadside to participate treble figures for goals, and the guardant aims to adhd to his 11 MLS strikes this weekend.

Nonetheless, Timo Werner remains a dual menace connected his day, with the erstwhile Chelsea antheral scoring 4 and assisting 3 successful conscionable 9 appearances.

FC Cincinnati imaginable starting lineup:

Celentano; Gidi, Miazga, Robinson; Bucha, Anunga, Nwobodo, Echenique; Evander; Dem, Denkey

San Jose Earthquakes imaginable starting lineup:

Gunn; Kikanovic, Munie, Roberts, Ricketts; Gonzalez, Fernandez; Bouda, Leroux, Werner; Judd

We say: FC Cincinnati 2-2 San Jose Earthquakes

Both sides person been successful indifferent signifier heading into Saturday's encounter, making it hard to backmost either broadside to unafraid maximum points.

Goals are a adjacent certainty, though, with FC Cincy and San Jose not keeping a cleanable expanse successful 7 and 11 MLS fixtures, respectively.

As such, a high-scoring gully could beryllium connected the cards astatine TQL Stadium this weekend.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.