Pure Grit
San Jose is now 7-2-4 in their last 13 matches after suffering a 3-1 loss on the road against Minnesota United FC on Wednesday and defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0 at home on Saturday night. Saturday night’s win extended San Jose’s unbeaten streak at home to eight matches (7-0-1), giving the club its first eight-match home unbeaten streak in a single season since 2016.
San Hoesen
Forward Danny Hoesen scored the only goal in Saturday night’s 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake. Hoesen is one of three players in the Western Conference with 4+ goals and 2+ game-winning goals in fewer than 10 starts this season (LAFC – Adama Diomande; POR – Brian Fernandez). Hoesen has tallied 21 goals and six-game winning goals since joining Major League Soccer at the start of 2017.
Stepping Up
Second-year defender Paul Marie was credited with the assist on Hoesen's goal. It marked his first career assist and game-winning assist.
Frequent Player
Earthquakes midfielder Magnus Eriksson made his 50th MLS appearance on Saturday, starting and playing 90 minutes.
Moving Up the Rankings
Goalkeeper Daniel Vega has now recorded six shutouts this season and three in his last four games. He currently has a 295-minute shutout streak at home. Vega’s six shutouts are tied for second most in the Western Conference, trailing only the LA Galaxy’s David Bingham (7). Vega is one of just three goalkeepers in MLS with 60+ saves and 6+ shutouts this season (DC – Bill Hamid; LA – David Bingham).
Beating LA
Friday night’s match will be the second meeting between San Jose and the LA Galaxy in 2019. The Earthquakes previously earned a 3-0 victory over the Galaxy on June 29 at Stanford Stadium in front of 50,850 fans. The Quakes are 3-1-1 in their last five league meetings against LA and have outscored their rivals 11-5 in that span.
