Mikey Varas says his playoff-chasing San Diego FC side are "on a mission" ahead of the MLS run-in, as they prepare to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday.
Varas says San Diego 'on a mission' in MLS Cup Playoff hunt
Both San Diego FC and the San Jose Earthquakes are currently occupying playoff places in the West, ahead of their head-to-head matchup.
Having lost 1-0 to Orlando City on Saturday, San Diego sit ninth in the Western Conference standings.
They currently occupy the final MLS Cup Playoff wild-card spot, though they are in a perilous position as the three teams directly below them are all just one point worse off.
And as he looked ahead to a clash with California rivals San Jose, Varas said: "Right now, we're on a mission.
"We're on a mission to put together our best performances, to find that consistency, and to accumulate points because we're at the business end of things in the league, and it's an important game.
"We'll take that game as a final, as we have all the ones up until now."
The 'Quakes are sixth in the table, five points better off than San Diego, though they also dropped points by conceding a 97th-minute equaliser to Austin FC last time out, in a 1-1 draw.
Head coach Bruce Arena said after that match: "We've wasted too many games this year at the end. We'd be in much better shape.
"The lesson to learn is how to close a game, maybe that's something we can learn.
"Overall, the effort was good. We're going to get a good effort in San Diego and again against Houston next Saturday."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer
Dreyer recorded three assists in San Diego’s last home match, a 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy on August 29.
It was Dreyer's fourth home match this season with multiple assists, and the last player to do so in more home games in a single regular season was Guillermo Barros Schelotto for the Columbus Crew in 2008 (six).
San Jose Earthquakes – Beau Leroux
Leroux's opening goal for the Earthquakes last Saturday came from 21.7 yards out.
All nine of his MLS goals have been scored from at least 16 yards away, with the average distance of his goals coming in at 23.6 yards.
MATCH PREDICTION – SAN DIEGO FC WIN
The San Jose Earthquakes have only won one of their last 13 regular-season matches (D5 L7).
They are winless in eight straight league games (D3 L5) after winning nine of their first 10 to open the campaign (L1).
The Earthquakes' eight points since the beginning of May are tied with the Seattle Sounders for the fewest in MLS in that time.
San Diego, by contrast, have won five straight home matches in all competitions, the longest home winning streak in their club history.
They opened the season with four straight home wins, then managed just one win in seven (D3 L3) at Snapdragon Stadium before winning each of their last five.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
San Diego FC – 50.3%
San Jose Earthquakes – 24.6%
Draw – 25.1%
