Mextranjeros meet in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs; Sporting KC vs. Quakes preview

After being last in the Western Conference early in the season, the San Jose Earthquakes go into the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs winning six of its last ten regular-season games and securing the last playoff spot in the West. 

The Quakes’ first-round matchup is against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park.

Sporting KC (12-6-3) go into the game as the No. 1 seed and favorites to win against the eighth-seeded Earthquakes (8-9-6). 

The Earthquakes and Sporting KC did not play each other this season, but San Jose has won two of three playoff matches against Kansas City. On the other hand, San Jose has only won once in their last 15 trips to Kansas City.

However, never count out a Matias Almeyda led team as he has found success in tournaments throughout the years. The Earthquakes head coach led San Jose to the quarterfinals of the MLS is Back Tournament this summer and helped Chivas Guadalajara win five trophies in three years in Liga MX.

With the help of MLS all-time goalscorer Chris Wondolowski and, Mextranjeros Carlos Fierro and Oswaldo Alanis, the Quakes can make this game more competitive than people may think. 

Kansas City also goes into the game with some question marks in their starting lineup. Midfielder Gadi Kinda and forward and Mextranjero Alan Pulido are questionable to play because of injury. Pulido has six goals and four assists for Sporting KC this season. 

Even without Pulido, Kansas City still has enough firepower to threaten teams with Johnny Russell, who scored three goals this season and was voted Sporting KC’s most valuable player.

In a shortened and turbulent season because of the coronavirus pandemic, Kansas City is still top of the West for a reason. Sporting KC has been the most consistent team in the conference because of the team’s solid defense. 

Sporting KC defender of the year Roberto Puncec was a presence in the backline for Kansas City, and goalkeeper Tim Melia had seven clean sheets.

While Sporting KC has improved defensively throughout the season, San Jose can’t say the same. 

The man-marking Quakes have shown to be a fragile side when it comes to defending. San Jose has allowed an opponent to score four or more goals seven times this season, with a 7-1 thrashing at the Seattle Sounders’ hands as a low point. 

However, San Jose has also shown the ability to rally back in games as Almeyda has continually preached a never die attitude.

This game will come down to the Earthquakes and what version of them we’ll see on Sunday. Will it be the side that allows goal after a goal, or will it be the side that presses the opponent and hits on a quick counter-attack? 

What we know for sure is that it’s going to be a must watch game.