Bruce Arena says every point is 'critical' as San Jose chase playoff spot ahead of Real Salt Lake clash
Every point 'critical' for San Jose, says Arena
The San Jose Earthquakes remain right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture, and their next test sees them travel to face Real Salt Lake. Bruce Arena insists every point the Earthquakes pick up from now until the end of the season will be "critical" to their hopes of reaching the postseason.
The Earthquakes extended their unbeaten run in MLS with a 1-1 draw away to the Colorado Rapids at the weekend, leaving them fourth in the Western Conference. San Jose now travel to America First Field in midweek to take on fellow postseason hopefuls Real Salt Lake, who are four points adrift of the LA Galaxy in the playoff race.
Arena's side have six regular-season matches remaining, including clashes against Nashville SC, FC Dallas and Minnesota United.
Arena praises fightback at Dick's Sporting Goods Park
The San Jose boss was pleased to leave Dick's Sporting Goods Park with a point, having come from behind against the Rapids.
"If you are referring to our game against Colorado and coming back from a deficit, it was a great result for our team," Arena said after the draw. "At this point of the season, every point we get is going to be critical for what we want to achieve. This was a big point for us.
"Especially against a team that has the second-best home record in the league. So to come here and get a point, it was a fantastic effort by everybody in our team."
RSL in a slump at the wrong time
Real Salt Lake are enduring a poor run, having won just one of their last 14 matches since MLS play resumed after this summer's World Cup. Their most recent league outing ended in a 2-1 home defeat to the Philadelphia Union, with Bruno Damiani and Milan Iloski scoring for the hosts. Saba Lobjanidze pulled one back in the 96th minute at Subaru Park.
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni made two changes at half-time in that match, bringing on Juan Manuel Sanabria and Luc De Fougerolles, who made an immediate impact. De Fougerolles assisted Lobjanidze's consolation.
"Obviously, the changes of Juan and Luc completely changed the game; there was nothing changed tactically," Mastroeni said. "It was just two international players playing at a really, really high level and a lot of confidence. With them, you saw the group change its mindset with their introduction.
"So I thought it was a fantastic second half and I thought the guys played extremely well and created a lot of really good opportunities."
Mastroeni said Sanabria and De Fougerolles could be in line to start against San Jose.
Players to watch
Saba Lobjanidze (Real Salt Lake): Lobjanidze scored RSL's only goal in their loss to Philadelphia, his sixth goal contribution for the club and his fifth off the bench. It is the most of any player as a substitute since he made his RSL debut after the World Cup break in July.
Dave Romney (San Jose Earthquakes): Romney was on target against Colorado, heading home from a set piece just before the hour mark. It was his 10th career regular-season MLS goal and the ninth to come from a set piece (five corners, four free kicks).
Match prediction and odds
RSL won their last meeting with San Jose, a 2-1 victory in July 2025, and have not won consecutive matches against the Earthquakes since October 2014 and April 2015. The hosts have lost eight of their last 10 regular-season matches, though their only win in that period, and their only victory since the World Cup break, was a 3-0 success over New England on September 26.
San Jose have extended their unbeaten run to seven matches (W3 D4). Seven of their eight losses in 2026 came in nine matches between May 13 and August 29, and they have lost none of their last seven.
Opta's supercomputer gives Real Salt Lake a 49.5% chance of victory, with a draw at 22.8% and a San Jose win at 27.7%. Home advantage has made RSL the favourites.