MLS Match Preview: San Jose Earthquakes (13-8-7) vs. Real Salt Lake (9-14-5)

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America First Field in Sandy, Utah.

Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT,

Broadcast on Apple TV.

Records and Standings

San Jose Earthquakes: 13-8-7 (46 points), 4th in the Western Conference. They are firmly in the playoff race and chasing a higher seed.

Real Salt Lake: 9-14-5 (32 points), around 11th–12th in the Western Conference. They remain on the fringe of the playoff picture but have struggled for consistency, especially on the road.

San Jose sits in a strong position for the postseason, while RSL needs results at home to keep faint hopes alive.

Venue and Weather Forecast

America First Field (Sandy, UT; formerly Rio Tinto Stadium). Forecast for Wednesday, October 14: Cool conditions with rain showers likely, high near 53–55°F, low around 37–40°F. Light winds (0–5 mph); precipitation chance around 50–60%. Expect a chilly, potentially wet evening that could favor a more physical style and affect ball movement.

Current Key Rosters / Projected Influences

Real Salt Lake (key contributors):
Goalkeepers: Rafael Cabral.
Defenders: DeAndre Yedlin, Kobi Henry, Philip Quinton, Sam Junqua, Luc de Fougerolles.
Midfielders: Juan Manuel Sanabria, Noel Caliskan, Stijn Spierings, Saba Lobjanidze.
Forwards: Sergi Solans (leading scorer), Morgan Guilavogui, Dominik Marczuk, Ariath Piol (returning from injury).

San Jose Earthquakes (key contributors):
Goalkeepers: Earl Edwards Jr.
Defenders: Dave Romney, Daniel Munie, Paul Marie, Reid Roberts.
Midfielders: Ronaldo Vieira, Eduard Löwen, Beau Leroux.
Forwards: Timo Werner, Preston Judd, Ousseni Bouda. Note: Official game-day rosters are confirmed closer to kickoff.

Injury Reports

Real Salt Lake: Multiple absences including Diego Luna (knee, long-term), Justen Glad (adductor), Lukas Engel (hamstring), Juan José Arias (hamstring), Emeka Eneli (knee). Griffin Dillon questionable (foot). Some returns noted recently (e.g., Zach Booth, Ariath Piol available or returning).

San Jose Earthquakes: Several out — DeJuan Jones (lower body/Achilles-related), Nonso Adimabua (lower body), Jonathan Gonzalez (lower body), Darius Johnson (lower body), Jack Skahan (lower body), Niko Tsakiris (upper body). Reid Roberts suspended (yellow-card accumulation) in some reports. Benji Kikanovic questionable.

Recent Team Forms

Real Salt Lake: Inconsistent. Recent results include a 2-1 road loss at Philadelphia on Oct. 10 (Saba Lobjanidze scored late), preceded by a 3-0 home win over New England that snapped a long winless streak, then losses to Seattle, Vancouver, and NYCFC. Stronger at home but poor overall road form.

San Jose Earthquakes: Solid and unbeaten in their last 7 matches (3W-0L-4D). Recent results include a 1-1 draw at Colorado on Oct. 10 (Dave Romney scored; Earl Edwards Jr. with 9 saves), 3-1 home win over Portland, 2-2 draw with LAFC, and 1-0 win over Houston. Strong form under Bruce Arena with a three-man back line.

Series History / Head-to-Head

A competitive Western Conference rivalry with mixed recent results. Games are often tight or high-scoring. San Jose has shown good recent form overall, while RSL has historically been competitive at home in this series. Expect a physical, midfield-oriented battle.

Key Player vs. Player Matchups

Sergi Solans / Morgan Guilavogui / Saba Lobjanidze (RSL) vs. San Jose defense (Romney, Munie, Edwards Jr.): RSL’s attacking options will test San Jose’s back three. Home crowd and altitude could help create chances.

Timo Werner / Preston Judd / Ousseni Bouda (SJ) vs. RSL defense (Yedlin, Henry, Quinton, depleted by injuries): Werner’s movement and Judd’s finishing will pressure a RSL backline missing key pieces.

Midfield battle: Sanabria/Caliskan vs. Vieira/Löwen. Control of the center will dictate tempo; San Jose’s recent organization gives them an edge.

Set pieces and weather: Cool/wet conditions may increase the value of aerial threats (Romney has scored recently) and defensive organization.

Betting Trends

San Jose’s strong form and unbeaten run make them attractive underdogs; RSL’s home advantage is priced in but tempered by injuries and inconsistency. Both Teams to Score has been frequent.

This midweek Western Conference matchup pits a surging San Jose side fighting for seeding against a home RSL team looking to build on recent positive results amid injuries. Expect a competitive, potentially physical game at America First Field in cool conditions, with San Jose’s form making them dangerous road underdogs.

MATCH ODDS

San Jose Earthquakes    + 276

Real Salt Lake                    – 119

Draw                                     + 315

Over 3 – 140                       Under 3 + 106

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 13, 2026

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