{"id":896,"date":"2016-09-24T09:30:04","date_gmt":"2016-09-24T13:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=896"},"modified":"2016-09-24T01:53:23","modified_gmt":"2016-09-24T05:53:23","slug":"sporting-kc-san-jose-earthquakes-storylines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2016\/09\/24\/sporting-kc-san-jose-earthquakes-storylines\/","title":{"rendered":"Sporting KC-San Jose Earthquakes: Storylines and Predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Jose, CA (September 23rd, 2016)<\/strong>– The San Jose Earthquakes<\/b><\/a> are fighting for their playoff lives, and surprisingly so are Sporting KC<\/a>. <\/b>Both team\u2019s failures to capitalize on each-other\u2019s dropped points in the last two weeks has kept them in a virtual deadlock, and even allowed Seattle Sounders<\/b><\/a> to creep into the conversation. With six points separating the two, and two games in hand for San Jose, their attempt to get into the playoff picture get\u2019s more and more critical. Three points is a virtual must for both teams on Saturday, but San Jose has more to lose. So what are the storylines?<\/span><\/p>\n

Sporting KC-San Jose Earthquakes: Storylines and Predictions<\/span><\/h1>\n

Earthquakes Down To Must Win Games<\/span><\/h3>\n

The San Jose Earthquakes continue to dive deeper and deeper into \u201cmust-win\u201d territory, and might just hit the rock bottom of that territory. A loss this week puts them nine points behind Sporting KC. Even with the two games in hand, and one more matchup against Sporting, Seattle would take a significant step forward if that was the outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sporting\u2019s Grip on the Postseason Weakening<\/span><\/h3>\n

After winning six straight home games, Sporting KC dropped points to last place Houston Dynamo and a weakened LA Galaxy squad. With a grip on fifth that seemed firmly in place, Sporting KC were even looking towards getting a home game in the opening round. Now, it\u2019s a question of whether or not they can hang on to a playoff spot. If Seattle and San Jose won their remaining games in hand, and ended up finishing with the same results as Sporting during the run in, Sporting would finish eighth in the West. These games against San Jose, two of their four remaining, are significant. Any dropped result lets San Jose in the back door. A win? Virtually eliminates San Jose from the postseason. <\/span><\/p>\n

Predictions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sporting KC Lineup<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sporting will go with what has worked in the last few games, and you can expect to see little change in their starting XI:
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