• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Earthquakes-United Preview

Sep 26, 2009 - 4:53 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

San Jose (5-12-7) at D.C. (8-6-12), 3:00 p.m. EDT

There are plenty of daunting matchups that teams would likely prefer to have extra time off to prepare for. Home contests against the San Jose Earthquakes probably don't fall under that category.

In their first game in over two weeks, D.C. United look to improve their playoff chances and extend the Earthquakes' 20-game road winless streak Sunday.

D.C. (8-6-12) hasn't played since a 2-1 loss to Seattle on Sept. 12, when it had a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2) come to an end. With four matches left in the regular season, United are in the midst of a tight playoff race.

A matchup against San Jose (5-12-7) at RFK Stadium should help D.C.'s cause.

The Earthquakes are 0-12-8 on the road since a 2-0 victory over Columbus on June 7, 2008. San Jose almost won at Colorado on Wednesday night but allowed a late goal and settled for a 1-all tie.

"We're getting closer to ending it and we feel like it will happen every time we come to the stadium," forward Chris Wondolowski said.

San Jose has lost four straight at RFK Stadium since a 1-0 victory Aug. 24, 2003. The Earthquakes will try to take advantage of a United team that has been struggling offensively.

D.C. has scored five goals in six games after finding the back of the net eight times in its previous three.

"Late in the year it's common that one-goal games are big, so you need to put away your opportunities," coach Tom Soehn said. "The important thing is that you have to create those opportunities and that is something that we've done."

San Jose has been limited to one goal or none in five straight games, going 1-2-2 with ties in their last two. The Earthquakes have not gone without a loss in three consecutive games all season.

"I feel like I'm in one of those cartoons where the cloud of rain follows you wherever you go," Wondolowski told the Earthquakes' official Web site. "If we didn't have bad luck, I don't think we'd have any luck at all. Granted, you make your own luck. We have to play a full 90 minutes and we've played about 89 1/2 the last two games."

Wondolowski put San Jose ahead 1-0 with a penalty kick in the 67th minute Wednesday, but the Earthquakes gave up a late lead to the Rapids for the second straight game.

San Jose was without midfielder Arturo Alvarez, who missed his second straight game due to a hamstring injury. He's listed as questionable for Sunday's match, the teams' last meeting of the season.

San Jose rallied to force a 2-2 tie against D.C. on July 25.