Depth to be tested when Dynamo travel to take on the San Jose Earthquakes

Following last Saturday evening’s late night loss to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park, the Houston Dynamo are likely ready to move on entirely and focus on the schedule ahead. And oh boy what a schedule do they have as the Dynamo are now making up for their home heavy to begin the year. With just two of the next six games being played at BBVA Stadium, the club will have to start getting some positive results on the road and that starts with the club’s next opponent – the San Jose Earthquakes.

It’s been a mixed bag for the 2019 Earthquakes who currently sit 8^th place in the Western Conference. Wins, draws, and losses are almost even throughout the year and like the Dynamo were recently bounced from the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

In the Earthquake’s last match they were defeated 3-1 by LAFC in the Open Cup. Even though Valeri Qazaishvili opened the scoring in just the 7^th minute for the Quakes, LAFC found their way back with Diego Rossi equalizing in the 35^th minute and Adama Diomande and Carlos Vela each adding goals in the second half. LAFC have been in a class by themselves so a defeat shouldn’t be too surprising to an outsider.

For the Dynamo though, they’re last match was unsettling. Houston currently occupies the 5^th place space in the Western Conference table and their last opponent was the West’s last place side, the Portland Timbers. Yes, yes, the Timbers have played nearly all of their games away from Providence Park, the Dynamo don’t travel well or play well on artificial surfaces, and their squad was heavily depleted, However, I don’t think many of us expected the 4-0 defeat to the Timbers this past Saturday. It was frustrating to see the team get picked apart by Diego Valeri and company who were aided by some unfavorable (if you’re Houston) VAR decisions.

The Earthquakes, unlike the Dynamo, are not coming off a short turnaround as their last match was played last Thursday compared to Houston playing Saturday. To make matters worse, the Dynamo will have to deal with an extensive group of players not available including Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto. The depth will be tested and with some of this depth such as Tommy McNamara already logging heavy minutes, it’ll be difficult.

San Jose will be eager to try and make a move up the table while Houston will be ready to get a positive result between them and that loss to Portland.

Kickoff will be at 9:30 PM CT at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, CA.