{"id":26260,"date":"2020-02-28T14:09:05","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T19:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=26260"},"modified":"2020-02-28T14:10:19","modified_gmt":"2020-02-28T19:10:19","slug":"preview-toronto-fc-san-jose-earthquakes-look-to-make-quick-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2020\/02\/28\/preview-toronto-fc-san-jose-earthquakes-look-to-make-quick-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Toronto FC, San Jose Earthquakes look to make quick statement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Preview \u2014<\/strong> Toronto FC<\/a> and the San Jose Earthquakes<\/a> will both officially open their MLS season this Saturday. They will be playing at Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose, California.<\/p>\n

Toronto FC heads into this MLS season as the Eastern Conference champions. Meanwhile, San Jose barely missed the playoffs last year. Since both teams are not in the Concacaf Champions League, this will be their first competitive game this year.<\/p>\n

San Jose Earthquakes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The San Jose Earthquakes have won the MLS Cup twice in 2001 and 2003. However, they have struggled to make it to the playoffs in the last decade. They have made the MLS playoffs only three times in the last 10 years. The last time the Earthquakes made the MLS playoffs, they were destroyed 5-0 by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They were close to making this a reality last year, but were four points clear from the final playoff spot. According to Neil Bisman<\/a>, the Earthquakes are expected to be in a similar position this year. They are tied 14th with the Houston Dynamo<\/a> in MLS for winning the championship with odds of +2900 to win the MLS Cup.<\/p>\n

The San Jose Earthquakes have been quiet in the off-season transactions this year. However, they did acquire Oswaldo Alanis on loan from Club Deportivo Guadalajara.<\/p>\n

San Jose Earthquakes Off-Season Transactions<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The most notable transaction for the San Jose Earthquakes was getting from loan Mexican Alanis. San Jose Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda had high praise for Alanis.<\/p>\n

\u201cOswaldo is a player that can add a lot from the human element as well as in football,\u201d Almeyda said to MLS<\/a>. \u201cI had the chance to coach him for two and half years and his position is where we have the fewest players. My hope is that he shows the same level he showed when I coached him previously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alanis plays at the centre-back position. He will be relied upon by his defense and goalkeeper to keep goals out of the net. Expect him to have a big game Saturday against Toronto FC.<\/p>\n

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All For One: Moving Forward (S08E01) presented by @Bell<\/a> <\/p>\n

FULL EPISODE \u00bb https:\/\/t.co\/lNSbOcSZ3C<\/a>#TFCLive<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dBg0yGKUNr<\/a><\/p>\n

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) February 28, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n