Put on the coffee and get those pregame naps in, FC Dallas is set to face San Jose on Friday night at 10 p.m. CT on UniMas and Facebook Live (Univision Deportes). Dallas (3-0-1) will look to remain unbeaten on the MLS season and overtake – at least for the night – the top spot in the West. The Earthquakes (2-2-1) are coming off a last-minute, game-tying goal against Seattle to remain unbeaten at home on the year.
Road Sweet Home
Dallas has a 1-0-1 record this season on the road and has yet to allow a goal at Avaya Stadium since it opened before the 2015 season. In three matches in the Bay Area since, FCD has played to two 0-0 draws and a 1-0 win against the Quakes. FC Dallas hasn’t lost to San Jose since May 2014, and all four of the Earthquakes’ wins over Dallas in 15 tries since 2012 have been 2-1 score lines.
Key Match-Ups
Michael Barrios vs. Shaun Francis: With a goal and an assist last week, Barrios is coming off his most complete performance of the year against Minnesota. Francis has played all but two minutes for the Quakes in 2017, registering 16 tackles and nine clearances in five games.
Kellyn Acosta vs. Anibal Godoy: As Oscar Pareja likely goes back to a 4-4-2 lineup this weekend, look for Kellyn Acosta to push up into the attack down the middle of the field. Similarly, Godoy plays a similar role for the Quakes, with 2 goals and an assist of his own from a central midfield role.
Last Time Out
(4-4-2): David Bingham; Shaun Francis, Florian Jungworth, Fatai Alashe, Nick Lima; Jamir Hyka, Darwin Ceren, Anibal Godoy, Simon Dawkins; Marco Urena, Chris Wondolowski.
Key to Three Points
FCD will look to carry their good fortune in San Jose’s new digs into a third season in the first of two meetings of the season. Jesse Gonzalez will likely get his third start of the season in goal off a five-save performance last weekend and already has two clean sheets under his belt in 2017. If the defensive half can once against take care of business – having not allowed a goal in the run of play this season – the offense can find their chances in due time over the course of 90 minutes.
