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Earthquakes-Revolution Preview

Aug 28, 2009 - 4:55 PM By ANDY LEFKOWITZ STATS Editor

San Jose (5-11-5) at New England (8-6-6), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The New England Revolution are in the middle of a key three-game homestand as they try to secure a playoff berth. They'll face a struggling team that they have not fared well against in their next contest.

The Revolution look for a season-high third straight win Saturday night when they host the last-place San Jose Earthquakes, who have enjoyed a surprising amount of success against New England.

The Revs (8-6-6) are tied with Toronto FC for third place in the Eastern Conference and have two games in hand. History, though, suggests that this match will be anything but easy for them.

New England is 5-9-1 at home against San Jose and 1-5-1 since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002.

A win or draw will give the Revolution their first season series win over the Earthquakes since 2000, and they may be facing their surprising nemesis at the right time.

New England has given up a total of three goals while going 4-1-1 in its last six matches. The Revs defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 on Sunday to kick off the homestand, which ends next Friday against Kansas City.

Forward Kheli Dube recorded his first three-goal game in MLS, tying him with Shalrie Joseph for the team lead with six goals.

"I feel like it was good passes from teammates, and without those good passes you aren't going to get any good chances," said Dube, the MLS player of the week for Aug. 17-23. "It's all about teamwork and getting good balls from guys."

Dube supplied the offense in a season-opening 1-0 victory over San Jose on March 21 to back Matt Reis' 49th career shutout.

Dube and midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, though, are questionable for Saturday. Dube strained his left hamstring and Larentowicz fractured his right wrist late in the victory over RSL.

"I've got a cast on it. It'll be on for six weeks, but I trained (on Wednesday) - we just had it padded up so I'll be fine," Larentowicz said.

San Jose (5-11-5) is at the bottom of the Western Conference, but went 2-1-1 on a four-game homestand that was capped by a 1-0 win over the Wizards last Saturday. Bay Area native Chris Wondolowski scored in second-half stoppage time.

"It's always in your dreams and mentally picture this happening, but I don't think you could script it out any better - in the 90th minute," said Wondolowski, who made his debut with the original Earthquakes in 2005 and was acquired from Houston on June 9.

Joe Cannon has been a key to San Jose's recent surge. After failing to notch a shutout in his first 18 games, he recorded two in his last three matches.

Despite his recent success, Cannon has allowed a league-worst 38 goals this year while playing every minute of each game.

San Jose will be without defender Jason Hernandez, who will serve a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation.