Sporting Kansas City vs San Jose Earthquakes: MLS Wild Card preview, team news, stats

The second of the newly-introduced MLS Wild Card fixtures sees Sporting Kansas City take on San Jose Earthquakes at Children’s Mercy Park.

The two teams finished level on points in the Western Conference and there is little to choose between the two sides across the season. Their two regular season matches finished with a 3-0 victory for the home side, suggesting that Sporting KC will are the favourites to progress to in front of a raucous home crowd.

The winner in this single-legged Wild Card Game will take on St. Louis City SC in the next round, setting up the tantalising prospect of a ‘soccer city’ derby if Sporting make it through.

Read more about the MLS Cup playoffs...

  • MLS teams prepare for one-off Wild Card fixtures
  • MLS Cup playoffs: East vs West
  • Stats how you do it: MLS 2023's top performers

Season of two halves for both sides

Sporting KC looked destined to miss out on the post-season after a shocking start to the 2023 campaign, which saw them go their first ten MLS matches without a single victory. However the return of Designated Player striker Alan Pulido from a long-term knee injury sparked a upturn in their fortunes and the Mexican has hit 14 goals in his comeback season.

It has been a different story for San Jose, who looked to be cruising to the playoffs until suffering a poor run of form in the final two months of the season. They have won just one of their last 11 MLS fixtures and forfeited their Wild Card home advantage after a drab 1-1 home draw against already-eliminated Austin FC on the final day of the regular season.

With thanks to our friends at Sofascore, here’s how the two sides compare in MLS this season...

Sofascore Sporting Kansas City vs San Jose Earthquakes
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Sofascore Sporting Kansas City vs San Jose Earthquakes

In addition to Pulido, Sporting KC has been boosted by the recent performances of team captain Johnny Russell. The 33-year-old has missed parts of the season due to injury but recorded eight goal contributions in the final ten Games to push his team to the playoffs.

For San Jose the attacking burden has often fallen on the shoulders of Christian Espinoza. The 28-year-old winger has contributed 13 goals and eight assists in MLS this season.

Sporting Kansas City vs San Jose Earthquakes team news

Neither team picked up any suspensions or sustained any long-term injuries in their final Games of the regular season, but there are a few fitness issues for the hosts to consider.

Sporting manager Peter Vermes withdrew Johnny Russell towards the end of last Saturday’s win over Minnesota United. The Sporting captain had been an injury doubt ahead of the Game but was able to play and proved decisive, but his fitness could become an issue if Sporting go deep in the playoffs.

Likewise Pulido is thought to be struggling with a foot injury and Erik Thommy was substituted due to a calf complaint. None of the trio have officially been ruled out.

San Jose has a clean bill of Health, aside from the long-term absences of defender Nathan and back-up goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.

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