Kerry Zavagnin believes Sporting Kansas Metropolis have to work on staying centered and problem themselves to be higher forward of their assembly with San Jose Earthquakes.
Zavagnin took over as interim coach following the departure of long-time head coach Peter Vermes and, in his first recreation, guided Sporting KC to a win over St. Louis Metropolis, snapping a 13-game winless run.
However the pleasure shortly evaporated as his facet misplaced 4-2 to Portland Timbers final Saturday, with David Ayala and Kevin Kelsey starring. Dejan Joveljic managed a comfort aim after Jansen Miller turned the ball into his personal web, although Joveljic promptly missed a penalty within the dying minutes to cap off a disappointing night.
Reflecting on the sport, Zavagnin known as for his facet to enhance their focus and keep centered to keep away from defensive lapses.
“Portland pressed us a bit bit larger; they went for it, and generally it’s these moments in video games – they usually’re not very lengthy, they’re three or 4 minutes — that may flip the sport on its head,” Zavagnin stated.
“The groups that lose that focus extra typically and in decisive moments are those which are penalised.
“The problem is at all times to get higher, not simply bodily higher from a health perspective, however a focus health perspective. That’s a piece in progress.”
Sporting KC are at present 14th within the Western Convention with 4 factors, whereas the San Jose Earthquakes are ninth with 10 factors.
The Earthquakes misplaced out to Los Angeles FC final weekend, with Sergi Palencia and Denis Bouanga getting on the scoresheet. Cristian Espinoza might solely handle a Ninety fifth-minute comfort aim as Bruce Area’s facet misplaced for the fourth time this season.
“It’s a recreation we might’ve bought one thing out of,” Area stated. “I feel we performed pretty nicely.
“It was a great recreation. It was a bodily recreation, and I assumed each groups competed very nicely.”
Subsequent match: vs. SKC at @paypalpark and Nation Night time pic.twitter.com/kbKd5ZC8Ax
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) April 7, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
San Jose Earthquakes – Cristian Arango
Cristian Arango has scored 5 targets in eight profession regular-season matches towards Sporting Kansas Metropolis, solely scoring extra towards FC Dallas (six).
Since Arango debuted in MLS in August 2021, solely Jordan Morris (six) has discovered the online extra occasions towards Sporting.
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – Dejan Joveljic
Joveljic has scored seven targets in 10 profession regular-season matches towards San Jose, three greater than he has scored towards every other opponent in his MLS profession.
Since Joveljic debuted in MLS in August 2021, no participant has scored extra targets towards a single opponent (tied with three others).
See ya in San Jose #SJvSKC | #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/rWvYYg3Lqz
— Sporting Kansas Metropolis (@SportingKC) April 18, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES WIN
San Jose defeated Sporting Kansas Metropolis 2-1 in Kansas Metropolis on March 1, simply the Earthquakes’ third win over Sporting since 2017. San Jose haven’t defeated Sporting twice in a single season since 2015.
San Jose recorded a 6-1 dwelling win over D.C. United of their final dwelling match. The Earthquakes have received three of their final 9 at PayPal Park, scoring 13 targets over the three wins whereas totalling simply three complete targets within the different six video games (D1 L5).
In the meantime, Sporting Kansas Metropolis have misplaced eight right away from dwelling in all competitions, the longest street shedding streak in membership historical past (excluding breakaway shootout losses). Sporting have one win of their final 18 away matches (W1 D1), with the lone win in that point a 2-1 victory at San Jose final July.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
San Jose Earthquakes – 44.4%
Draw – 26.8%
Sporting Kansas Metropolis – 28.8%