With the disappointment from their midweek US Open Cup exit still lingering in the air, San Jose Earthquakes visit the Q2 Stadium to face Austin FC in MLS on Saturday.
Having failed to win any of their last five outings, Josh Wolff's side will head into the weekend looking to arrest their slump and get their campaign up and running.
Match preview
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Austin FC failed to arrest their slump in form as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Los Angeles Galaxy when the sides met at Dignity Health Sports Park last Sunday.
Following a goalless first half, veteran striker Javier Hernandez broke the deadlock in the 54th minute to open his account for the season and put Greg Vanney's side in front before Riqui Puig grabbed the second of the game to hand the visitors a third successive away defeat.
Austin have now gone five straight matches without a win, losing three and claiming two draws since March's 2-0 win over Violette in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League round-of-16 exit clash.
However, Wolff's men now return to the Q2 Stadium, where they are on a four-match unbeaten run, picking up two draws and two wins since their 3-2 loss to St Louis City in the league opener on February 26.
The Verde and Black have now lost four of their opening eight matches while claiming two wins and two draws to collect eight points and sit 11th in the Western Conference table.
Austin's slow start to the season could be linked to their struggles in attack, where they have scored just one goal in their last five outings, while already conceding 12 at the opposite end of the pitch this season.
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San Jose Earthquakes, on the other hand, suffered a shock third-round exit from the US Open Cup as they were stunned by USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC on Wednesday.
The Cardinale Stadium witnessed an upset as former Portland Timbers striker Christian Volesky struck in the 26th minute to hand the hosts a 1-0 win and send them through to the fourth round of the cup for the first time in the club's history.
San Jose Earthquakes now return to the MLS, where they fell to a 3-1 loss against Real Salt Lake at America First Field last Sunday to bring their three-match unbeaten run to an end.
Both defeats have come away from home, where Luchi Gonzalez's men have found it difficult to grind out results and are yet to pick up a win this season, losing four and managing one draw in their five outings so far.
For all their result struggles, San Jose Earthquakes are currently fifth in the Western Conference standings, level on 14 points with fourth-placed Dallas and five points off first-placed St Louis City.
The Quakes now look to arrest their slump this weekend against an Austin side against whom they are unbeaten in their last five meetings, claiming two wins and three draws since June 2021.
Team News
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Austin FC will be without the services of 23-year-old defender Zan Kolmanic, who suffered an ACL injury in the game against Los Angeles FC on April 9.
Diego Fagundez is also a doubt for the hosts after missing last weekend's trip to Los Angeles Galaxy through an injury, while Julio Cascante has been sidelined since February due to a groin problem.
Sebastian Driussi scored a first-half brace when Austin and San Jose played out a pulsating 3-3 draw last August and the 27-year-old will be looking to deliver the goods again.
Nathan Cardoso has been out of action since October due to a severe ACL injury and the Brazilian defender is out of contention for Gonzalez's side.
He is joined on the Quakes' injury table by American midfielder Niko Tsakiris, who is yet to feature this year after picking up a groin problem in October's game against Seattle Sounders.
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Gallagher, Ring, Vaisanen, Lima; Wolff, Pereira; Rigoni, Driussi, Finlay; Urruti
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Akapo, Mensah, Rodrigues, Marie; Yueill, Gruezo, Monteiro; Espinoza, Ebobisse, Cowell
We say: Austin FC 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes
While San Jose Earthquakes will be looking to restore some pride following their cup exit, they face an Austin side who have been near impenetrable on home turf. Austin's home advantage gives them a slight edge heading into the weekend and we are backing them to end their winless run against the Quakes.
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Joshua Ojele
