Making their first respective appearances in the knockout portion of the Leagues Cup, the San Jose Earthquakes host Necaxa on Thursday at PayPal Park. Despite a 2-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Galaxy in their previous encounter, the Quakes finished second in their West 2 group, while the Mexicans beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 to claim the top spot in West 6.
It was not the smoothest group phase for San Jose, but they did enough to advance, winning the tiebreaker over Guadalajara by defeating them on penalties in their first game. Their two points gained in the opening round of this tournament were two more than this team had ever earned in any Leagues Cup campaign before this year. Interim manager Ian Russell has only collected one victory in normal time since taking over from Luchi Gonzalez when his team defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 in early July. That was the last time this side had won a game played at PayPal Park within 90 minutes, with the Quakes losing three of their previous four home contests across all competitions.
Throughout the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign, the Goonies have struggled to maintain their advantages, losing five times when scoring first. The only normal time victory for them versus a Liga MX side came in the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals when they defeated Pachuca 1-0 at home in the second leg of that tie but were eliminated 3-1 on aggregate.
Another early goal conceded last weekend seemed to wake Necaxa up this time, as they stormed back to score three unanswered at Lumen Field. That victory created a three-way tie in West 6, with Los Once Hermanos finishing on top of the group thanks to a superior goal difference (+1). On Sunday, Eduardo Fentanes saw his side score multiple goals in a game for the first time since matchday two of the Apertura campaign when they defeated Puebla 4-1.
Meanwhile, the three goals scored in Seattle are two more than this side had managed in their previous three Leagues Cup affairs combined. The only two goals this team conceded in the group phase occurred within the opening 10 minutes of play, while they have not drawn first blood since a 1-1 draw versus Club Leon on matchday four of the current domestic season. Los Rayos have an opportunity to win consecutive matches away from home Thursday for the first time since claiming successive Clausura triumphs in mid-March and early April.
In their defeat to the Galaxy, San Jose were without Carlos Akapo and Jamar Ricketts due to lower-body issues, while JT Marcinkowski was not available as he is recovering from an ACL injury. Jeremy Ebobisse is the only Quakes player to have found the back of the net for them in this competition (two goals), temporarily putting them on level terms with the Galaxy before his side conceded a winner one minute before the 90.
Against Seattle, Necaxa did not have Alek Alvarez available as the midfielder is still dealing with a shoulder injury, which kept him out of their two group fixtures. Agustin Palavecino equalised on Sunday with a strike in the 24th minute before Diber Cambindo netted the winner late in the opening half and Kevin Rosero scored in second-half stoppage time.San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:Daniel; Kikanovic, Rodrigues, Beason, Costa; Yueill, Gruezo; Espinoza, Lopez, Pellegrino; Ebobisse
Necaxa possible starting lineup:Unsain; Martinez, Montes, Oliveros, Alcantar; Arce, Palavecino; Garnica, Paradela, Sandoval; Cambindo
Necaxa scored three times against the second-best defensive unit in Major League Soccer for goals conceded, and that should give them a significant confidence boost heading into this game. We believe they will have their share of opportunities against a San Jose backline that have given up an MLS-high 61 goals in the regular season.
When we talk about the Leagues Cup, what comes to mind is the excitement of a competition that pits the best of North American and Mexican soccer against each other. And this Thursday, the San Jose Earthquakes host Club Necaxa in a match that promises to be all or nothing. A duel that goes far beyond the four lines, where tactics, race and strategy intertwine in a minefield of uncertainty.
PayPal Park will be the stage for this decisive battle, where the Earthquakes, second in West 2, face West 6 leaders Necaxa. Necaxa, buoyed by their recent win over the Seattle Sounders, will be coming into the game on a high, but they'll be up against a San Jose side who, despite their ups and downs, have home advantage. Ah, playing at home... something that makes all the difference, especially when you have the support of a passionate crowd, as we saw in the match against Chivas, which attracted more than 50,000 fans, even though the majority were there to cheer against.
Speaking of support, the atmosphere of this match will be a crucial factor. If in the match against Chivas the Earthquakes found themselves playing almost like visitors in their own stadium, this time the crowd promises to be mostly in their favor. This could be the difference in a game that starts out evenly matched on paper, but in practice could go either way. After all, we're talking about soccer, and as we know, in this sport, the unpredictable is the only certainty.
On the San Jose side, the name of the game is Jeremy Ebobisse. The striker has shown that he's not messing around, with two goals in two games and a confidence that seems unshakable. With his confidence high and his tactics well adjusted, as coach Ian Russell rightly commented, the Earthquakes have an important asset in their hands. And let's not forget, confidence is a factor that, in many cases, is worth more than technique.
Necaxa, on the other hand, have a well-defined strategy: a lethal counter-attack. In the match against Seattle, they showed that even with only 28% possession, they are capable of dismantling any defense with surgical efficiency. And if the San Jose Earthquakes are to come out of this match victorious, they'll have to watch out for every move made by Los Rayos' swift and incisive attacks. Russell even made a point of highlighting Necaxa's quality, recognizing the danger their opponents pose.
But Necaxa aren't just attacking. Defensively, the Mexicans have also shown solidity, something the Earthquakes will need to break down if they want to stay alive in the competition. This is where tactical discipline and patience come in. Knowing the right time to attack, without exposing themselves too much to dangerous counter-attacks, will be key to the home team's success.
And in the midst of this tactical analysis, we can't forget the weight of history. Necaxa, with its more than 100 years of tradition, carries in its DNA the spirit of struggle and the quest for great achievements. Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes, despite being in their first Leagues Cup knockout stage, are looking to write a new chapter in their history, building on the foundation of a squad that is gradually gaining body and consistency.
Of course, it's not all flowers. San Jose still have to overcome the flaws that LA Galaxy exposed in their last group game. Defending is the team's Achilles heel, as Seattle Sounders coach Schmetzer rightly pointed out. The challenge will be to find a balance between maintaining a solid defense and exploiting the gaps that Necaxa will inevitably leave when looking to counter-attack.
On the other hand, Necaxa know that to advance they will need to repeat the formula that worked so well against Seattle. It will take focus, discipline and, above all, the coolness to take advantage of the chances that we know will be few. And in games like this, efficiency is everything.
So what can we expect from this match? A real battle, where every detail can make the difference. San Jose Earthquakes will have their fans and the home factor in their favor, while Necaxa will bring their experience and efficiency. Who will come out on top? It's hard to say. But what is certain is that whoever watches this match will certainly see a spectacle worthy of the great competitions.
