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United-Earthquakes Preview

Jul 2, 2010 - 10:17 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

D.C. (3-9-1) at San Jose (5-4-3), 10:00 p.m. EDT

It's been six weeks since the San Jose Earthquakes won. They're not going to get a much better chance to snap that drought than the one they'll find Saturday night.

The Earthquakes earned a draw against the MLS Cup champions their last time out, but they'll be desperate to pick up three points Saturday night in their lone home game during a five-match stretch against league-worst D.C. United.

San Jose (5-4-3) gave up seven goals in going 0-2-1 leading into the World Cup break but felt better after its first match back June 25 - a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake behind goalkeeper Jon Busch.

RSL beat San Jose 3-0 in the season opener, just days before Busch was acquired from Chicago.

"Jon Busch had us all in tune for the whole 90 minutes," rookie defender Ike Opara said. "He kept us sharp. He didn't really have to make a game-changing save tonight, but I think for him it was good to get that kind of result. We'll see what the situation is moving forward."

Coach Frank Yallop made it sound promising for the league's 2008 goalkeeper of the year, noting Busch will "most probably" be back between the posts against United (3-9-1) rather than Joe Cannon.

Busch, looking to help San Jose post its first win since a 1-0 victory at Seattle on May 22, might not have to work too hard to keep D.C. off the scoreboard. United scored six goals during a promising 2-0-1 stretch heading into the break, but was shut out for the ninth time in last Saturday's 2-0 loss at Columbus.

"We felt we had some good momentum over the last six or seven games," said Kris Kelderman, who filled in for suspended United coach Curt Onalfo. "Even though we lost in Columbus, we felt we played pretty well."

D.C. is 1-5-0 on the road, but San Jose isn't taking anything for granted - even though it's 5-0-5 at home against United since 1998.

"Anytime, especially in this league, where you get a team that's up against the ropes, they come out swinging," Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski said. "Whether it's on the road or at home, they're going to give their all, and those are the teams that I fear the most, to be honest."

San Jose would certainly appreciate Wondolowski, its leading goal scorer with six, finding the back of the net again. He scored in each of the Earthquakes' first four matches but has two goals in his last six.

Even if Wondolowski can't get going, perhaps Sam Cronin can. The midfielder, acquired from Toronto on June 21, played 90 strong minutes at central midfield four days after the trade.

Wondolowski, Cronin and fellow midfielder Bobby Convey should have ample opportunity to break through United's back line. Defenders Carey Talley (concussion) and Rodney Wallace (fractured leg) are out, and Julius James is questionable with a hamstring injury.

San Jose won't play at home again until July 31, after visits to Philadelphia and Los Angeles.