Massive Scouting Report: San Jose Earthquakes

The soccer gods had little mercy for the Crew last Saturday, as Columbus fell 1-0 to Inter Miami in Cleveland. Despite dominating the run of play against Messi and company, the Black & Gold walked away with no goals and no points. It was a performance full of promise—except in front of goal.

Now, the Crew shifts its focus to Bruce Arena and the San Jose Earthquakes.

San Jose have recently added left back DeJuan Jones from Columbus, giving their lineup a notable boost. The Quakes enter the match with 10 points and back-to-back losses, and Arena will be eager to get his team back on track with a result on the road.

San Jose Earthquakes at a Glance

  • Form: L-L-W-D-L
  • Record: 3-1-5 (10 Points)
  • Leading Scorer: Chicho Arango (6 goals)
  • Assist Leader: Cristian Espinoza (5 assists)
  • Player to Watch: Chicho Arango

Player Spotlight: Chicho Arango

Arango is in his debut season with San Jose following a whirlwind few years. He broke into MLS with LAFC in 2021, spent a short stint in Liga MX with Pachuca, returned to MLS with Real Salt Lake, and finally landed in San Jose this past offseason.

Despite the changes in leagues, teams, and systems, one thing has remained constant: Arango scores goals. With 66 goals in 118 MLS matches, he averages just over 0.5 goals per game—a remarkable rate by any standard.

Tactics: How San Jose Earthquakes Play

Even the legendary Bruce Arena is trying something new in his first season at the helm. While historically favoring a 4-2-3-1 setup, Arena has shifted to a 3-5-2 with the Quakes. Despite the formation change, his tactical philosophy remains largely intact.

San Jose boasts one of the most dangerous attacks in MLS, currently leading the league in both goals per game and expected goals. Their attacking success comes from a strong mix of possession-based build-up and direct, incisive play. They’re capable of working the ball patiently through midfield before striking quickly with long diagonals or crosses behind the backline. The Quakes also rank among the top five teams in accurate crosses per game.

Expect them to play more directly in this matchup, as the Crew have shown vulnerability against long balls this season.

Defensively, however, San Jose is far from solid. They’ve conceded the third-most goals per match and have allowed the highest expected goals against (xGA) in the league. When out of possession, their 3-5-2 morphs into a 5-3-2, and while they often press high, we may see a more conservative approach on the road as they look to grind out a point.

Keys to the Match: How the Crew Can Win

The Crew is eager to bounce back and maintain its spot near the top of the Eastern Conference. Here’s what they need to do to grab all three points on Saturday:

  • Be Ruthless in Front of Goal: Columbus generated 2.94 xG against Miami but failed to find the net. Creating chances hasn’t been the issue—it’s the finishing that needs to improve.
  • Handle the Long Ball: San Jose will look to exploit the Crew’s struggles with direct play. The backline and goalkeeper must be sharp and ready for those early, long passes.
  • Win the Individual Battles: With both teams favoring three-back systems, the match will feature plenty of 1v1 duels across the pitch. Winning those moments could be the difference between victory and disappointment.

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