Avoiding a third defeat in a row will be the target for San Jose Earthquakes when they play host to Dallas at the Paypal Park on Sunday morning.
On the other hand, the visitors make the journey aiming to return to winning ways having had to settle for a share of the spoils last time out.
Match preview
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San Jose Earthquakes suffered defeat in Los Angeles for the second game running with a 2-1 defeat against Los Angeles FC at the Banc of California Stadium on Sunday.
Luchi Gonzalez's men fell behind to Stipe Biuk's opener in the third minute but managed to draw level through Miguel Trauco before Carlos Vela decided the game from 12 yards in second-half stoppage time.
Consequently, the Goonies remain fifth in the Western Conference of the MLS table, albeit now seven points adrift of top spot having played a game more.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams as the last seven meetings have yielded one win apiece for either side and five draws.
Having come out on top in all but one of their most recent six matches on home turf, Sunday's hosts have turned their own patch into a real fortress of late and will certainly take some stopping this weekend.
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FC Dallas were denied a third consecutive victory as they were held to a 1-1 stalemate against Houston Dynamo at the Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Nico Estevez's men broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second period through Jader Obrian after which they conceded a late equaliser to Thor Ulfarsson.
Boasting 22 points from 13 matches this term, the Hoops sit fourth in the Western Conference standings with a four-point buffer over the teams outside the playoff places.
Off the back of picking up a first away win in four games in their most recent outing, Sunday's visitors now go in search of back-to-back victories on the road for the first time in over a year.
Team News
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Sebastian Lletget remains unavailable for Dallas through a thigh injury, while Tarik Scott is not expected to feature again this season due to a knee problem.
The away side will also be without the services of Paul Arriola and Geovane Jesus, but the latter is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action.
San Jose's duo of Niko Tsakiris and Cade Cowell are currently on international duty at the ongoing Under-20 World Cup, ruling them out of Sunday's affair.
Brazilian defender Nathan is facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament which he suffered earlier this year.
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Trauco, Rodrigues, Mensah, Marie; Monteiro, Gruezo, Yueill; Kikanovic, Ebobisse, Espinoza
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Maurer; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Nkosi, Farfan; Pomykal, Quignon; Obrian, Velasco, Ntsabeleng; Ferreira
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Dallas
Both teams have been far from solid at the back this season, so we expect neither of them to come away with a clean sheet. That said, we are tipping the hosts to narrowly secure all three points in the end.
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