New York City FC will aim to continue the recent winning run when they host San Jose Earthquakes at the Yankee Stadium on Friday.
The 2024 MLS regular season continues on Friday with a Friday night fixture, with New York City FC and San Jose Earthquakes locking horns at the Yankee Stadium to kick off Matchday 17 before the other teams take the field on Saturday.
New York City FC came into the 2024 campaign after finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference standings last season, managing only nine wins. They have nearly equalled that tally this term, emerging victorious on eight occasions to climb to third on the table. The Pigeons were slow off the blocks but have lost only one of their last ten MLS outings while being on a four-match winning run.
As for the San Jose Earthquakes, they are on an exactly opposite run of form, losing their last four MLS games. The poor start to the 2024 campaign, which has seen them win only three games thus far, has left Luchi Gonzalez’s men second from bottom on the Western Conference table, with Sporting Kansas City the only club behind them.
New York City FC and San Jose Earthquakes did not clash in the 2023 season, while their friendly ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign ended in a 2-2 draw. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
New York City FC
Nick Cushing does not have many pressing injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against San Jose Earthquakes on Friday, the New York City FC manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players.
Rio Hope-Gund is a short-term absentee due to his leg injury. On the other hand, Maxi Moralez will spend at least another month on the sidelines due to a cruciate ligament tear. Otherwise, Cushing has a full-strength squad at his disposal.
Matt Freese will take his usual spot between the sticks, with New York City FC lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against San Jose Earthquakes. The backline should feature Tayvon Gray, Kevin O’Toole, Birk Risa, and captain Thiago Martins.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Andres Perea and Keaton Parks in the double pivot. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Santiago Rodriguez will reprise the no. 10 role, with Hannes Wolf and Agustin Ojeda being the two wide attackers. Finally, Mounsef Bakrar will lead the line for New York City FC on Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Freese; Gray, Martins, Risa, O’Toole; Perea, Parks; Wolf, Rodriguez, Ojeda; Bakrar
San Jose Earthquakes
Unlike his counterpart in the New York City FC dugout, Luchi Gonzalez has new roster issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Yankee Stadium. The San Jose Earthquakes manager will be without four first-team players on Friday.
Carlos Akapo and Vitor Costa are the latest absentees, with the duo unavailable after picking up milestone yellow cards in the previous fixture. In addition, goalkeepers JT Marcinkowski and Daniel are still on the sidelines.
The duo’s absence means William Yarbrough will continue to deputise between the sticks. San Jose Earthquakes will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against New York City FC. The backline should feature Tommy Thompson, Rodrigues, Bruno Wilson, and Jamar Ricketts.
As for the midfield unit, Carlos Gruezo and captain Jackson Yueill will take their spots in the double pivot. Hernan Lopez will reprise the no. 10 role, looking to pull the strings in the final third. Jeremy Ebobisse will spearhead the San Jose Earthquakes attack, with Amahl Pellegrino and Cristian Espinoza being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Yarbrough; Thompson, Rodrigues, Wilson, Ricketts; Yueill, Gruezo; Espinoza, Lopez, Pellegrino; Ebobisse
Ways to Watch
Key Stats
- New York City FC and San Jose Earthquakes have faced off eight times, with the Pigeons winning five games (D3).
- New York City FC have lost only one of their last ten MLS matches while enjoying a four-match winning run.
- San Jose Earthquakes are on a four-game losing run.
- New York City FC have lost only two of their eight home games (W5 D1), while San Jose Earthquakes have won only one of their eight away matches (D1 L6).
- New York City FC and San Jose Earthquakes have frugal attacks, with their top scorers having less than half a dozen goals (Santiago Rodriguez for NYCFC with 5, Jeremy Ebobisse for SJE with 4).
Player to Watch
Mounsef Bakrar
Neither team has a prolific striker, which resonates in their goalscoring figures thus far this term. Santiago Rodriguez is the top scorer for New York City FC, finding the back of the net only five times thus far. That brings Mounsef Bakrar into the picture.
The 23-year-old has a paltry tally of one goal in 13 appearances in the 2024 MLS season thus far. However, Bakrar needs to step up to ensure New York City can stitch a long winning streak. If that happens, the Pigeons can become a formidable unit, especially in the final third.
Prediction
New York City FC 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Friday’s match features two teams on the opposite ends of the spectrum on form. In addition, the visitors have a horrendous record on the road this season, winning only one away game thus far. While New York City FC’s home tally is not exceptional, they are on a roll right now.
San Jose Earthquakes have conceded two or more goals in eight of their last ten away matches. On the other hand, New York City FC have found the back of the net two or more times in six of their ten most recent home games. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Nick Cushing and his charges.