What a difference a year makes in San Jose. From strugglers to strange, man-marking sensations, the Earthquakes have developed quickly, if unevenly, under new head coach Matias Almeyda. The man that knocked off Toronto in the 2018 Concacaf Champions League final has brought his unique brand of soccer to MLS, and the results have been exhilarating and wearying in equal measure.
Almeyda himself is suspended for Wednesday’s match after being dismissed for the second time this season as his team fell to Atlanta. Leading goalscorer Chris Wondolowski and newly minted star winger Cristian Espinoza were also red-carded, so the Quakes will be shuffling the lineup when Philly rolls into town.
Jim Curtin may also make some changes to his starting eleven given that the Union are in the midst of a tight schedule and facing an opponent that plays such a strange system. The key to attacking San Jose is to be comfortable on the ball, draw pressure, and find a teammate behind that pressure. This likely means the Union center backs will be able to advance the ball into midfield with relative ease, and that the hard work will be making a good decision once they’re in that restricted space.
Mark McKenzie’s injury leaves Curtin with the option of turning to Aurelien Collin or Auston Trusty to attack San Jose. Trusty played against a man-marking system last year when Chicago came to Philadelphia, but his confidence on the ball has been an issue in 2019. The young center back certainly has the ability to take on this challenge if he puts trust in his feet.
The key man for the Union may be Jamiro Monteiro. The midfielder was below his best against Red Bulls but has the movement and skill to move into passing lanes and beat his man in space, and these two things open up the game against San Jose. Additionally, Monteiro’s comfort in multiple midfield positions means he can drag his defender across the pitch without feeling out of place.
Alejandro Bedoya’s intelligence will also be crucial on Wednesday since he reads gaps in a defensive line as well as any midfielder in MLS. If the Union can pick out Bedoya’s runs in behind when San Jose’s defenders are dragged apart, there will be ample opportunities to set up in the final third.
The big question mark for Philly will be Ilsinho. He broke the game open against Chicago last year, and he has been virtually impossible to mark with one man in 2019. If Curtin goes with him from the start, pay close attention to how San Jose responds. If they commit an extra man to the Brazilian, the Union will need to figure out quickly where that man is coming from and attack his space.
The Union and Quakes face off at 11:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 25, with a pre-game show streaming live on PhiladelphiaUnion.com and on the LiveWell Network at 10:30 p.m. ET.
