San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chivas USA Preview

As the season winds down the San Jose Earthquakes have only pride to play for as they head down the I-5 for a match with Chivas USA tonight. The match is part of a two week LA-SJ doubleheader with the Quakes finishing their season at Home Depot Center against the LA Galaxy. Although the match has little meaning for San Jose, the tie is big for Preki's men as Chivas USA need a victory to try and wrestle home field advantage in the playoffs from the Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo, all of which are level at 44 points with the Goats.

Chivas USA has been on a tear as of late with wins in their last two matches as well as a 3-0-2 record in their last five matches. As the Goats prepare for the playoffs however, the team must deal with a congested schedule as they prepare to play their three remaining games with only six days rest in between starting tonight against San Jose. Key to the Goats playoff hopes will be the play of the resurgent Sacha Kljestan who has played beautifully in Chivas' last five matches notching three goals. Along with the stellar play of the US inernational Kljestan, Chivas is anchored by MLS goal keeper of the year candidate Zach Thornton who has only allowed one goal in the Goats last five matches. Thornton leads MLS with 12 shut outs.

Expect a warm HDC welcome tonight for US International Jonathan Bornstein who scored the tying goal in the United States' 1-1 draw with Costa Rica. The goal gave the Yanks, the top spot in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament and clinched a World Cup birth for Honduras, a nation that had not gone to a World Cup in 27 years. The goal has opened many doors for Bornstein even a personal invitation to Honduras' Islas de la Bahia from Honduran President Roberto Micheletti.

For San Jose, the news this week has been bleak as three key players to their 2009 effort have or will go under the knife and will be out for the team's final two matches. Defender Jason Hernandez had surgery to repair a torn deltoid ligament in his left knee while forward Chris Wondolowski went in to prepare a torn LCL. No time table was given for the return of either player. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago International Cornell Glen will undergo surgery next week on his right knee. There is some good news this week for San Jose as the Quakes will be boosted by the return of Arturo Alvarez, Ramon Sanchez and Simon Elliott from International duty. Despite being weakened by a plethora of absences and injuries, the Quakes are 2-1-3 in their last six matches.

BerkeleySportsBlog.com will be appearing live on the road so expect the full Estadio Buck Shaw treatment at Home Depot Center as we provide you with a live blog as well as post game reaction.