San Jose Earthquakes vs Los Angeles FC: Judd Doubtful
Updated
San Jose Earthquakes play Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer on Saturday, 19 September 2026 at PayPal Park, with the hosts defending a one-point advantage over their visitors in the Western Conference standings.
San Jose manage injuries after consecutive wins
San Jose Earthquakes enter Saturday on a four-game unbeaten run in Major League Soccer. They defeated Houston Dynamo 1-0 on 13 September 2026 after a 3-2 victory away at San Diego on 10 September 2026. Prior to that, they drew 1-1 at Austin on 6 September 2026 and 0-0 at Houston Dynamo on 30 August 2026. Those results moved San Jose to fourth in the Western Conference with 41 points from 25 matches.
However, top scorer Preston Judd, who has scored 12 goals this season in all competitions, is doubtful due to an injury. The hosts already have D. Jones, E. Edwards, N. Adimabua, and T. Werner confirmed out through injury, with R. Roberts also rated doubtful. At PayPal Park, San Jose hold five wins, two draws, and five defeats in 12 league fixtures, scoring 20 goals and conceding 19.
Los Angeles FC generate 1.96 expected goals despite away defeats
Los Angeles FC sit sixth in the table with 40 points from 26 games. The visitors arrive after a 3-1 loss away at Sporting Kansas City on 13 September 2026, which followed a 2-0 home win against New York Red Bulls on 10 September 2026 and a 2-2 draw away at Real Salt Lake on 6 September 2026.
Away results have challenged the side throughout 2026, with three wins, five draws, and five losses from 13 road games in the competition, conceding 16 goals while scoring 16. Despite that return, their underlying offensive numbers remain strong. Over their last five matches with chance data, Los Angeles FC generated an average of 1.96 expected goals per match while allowing 1.43. Denis Bouanga leads the team with 13 goals in all competitions, though R. Porteous, T. Hasal, and T. Tillman are all sidelined with injuries.
San Jose won the reverse meeting 4-1
The most recent fixture between these clubs occurred on 19 April 2026, when San Jose Earthquakes recorded a 4-1 away victory over Los Angeles FC. That outcome halted the away side's recent success in the fixture, which included a 4-2 Los Angeles FC win at San Jose on 14 September 2025 and a 2-1 Los Angeles FC home victory on 13 April 2025.
Our model leans narrowly towards a Los Angeles FC win
Our forecasting model leans narrowly towards a Los Angeles FC win. Although San Jose took the previous encounter 4-1 in April and have won two consecutive league games, their attacking options may be restricted if 12-goal scorer Preston Judd cannot feature alongside four confirmed absentees. Los Angeles FC have won only three of 13 away league matches, but an attack producing 1.96 expected goals a game, spearheaded by Denis Bouanga, gives the visitors the statistical edge.
