FC Dallas will attempt to stave off elimination when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night.
Dallas (10-14-7, 37 points) stand eight points behind Minnesota United and the Portland Timbers with three matches remaining. Minnesota and Portland share the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
FC Dallas would be eliminated from postseason play if they lose to Earthquakes. But even with a win, their hopes would end if Minnesota beats Real Salt Lake and Portland defeats Austin FC on Wednesday.
Dallas interim coach Peter Luccin said his club will lay it all out on the line against San Jose despite the slim hopes.
“We’re professionals,” Luccin said. “We have three games left to play. Those three games, we’re going to play and we’re going to go win. It’s easy for me to say, but that’s what we’re going to do. … Nobody is going to give up here.”
Dallas is 1-3-1 over its past five matches, including a crushing 3-1 home loss against Orlando City on Saturday.
Paul Arriola scored the Dallas goal on a penalty kick. He has five goals this season, tied for second on the squad behind Petar Musa’s 15.
The Earthquakes (5-23-3, 18 points) have experienced a dreadful season, allowing a league-worst 72 goals.
San Jose is mired in a five-match winless streak (0-4-1) and is coming off a lackluster 3-0 road loss to CF Montreal on Saturday.
The bright spot for the Earthquakes has been the play of Cristian Espinoza, who has four goals and 13 assists this season.
Against Montreal, Espinoza played in his 106th consecutive match to move into third place on the all-time consecutive-matches-played list among non-goalkeepers. He is two behind second-place Darlington Nagbe, whose streak ended in April.
“I think it’s a good achievement,” Espinoza said. “I have to be thankful, first of all to my body because it’s in good shape. I try to do my best in every training session and prepare myself, not just before every single game, but also starting in the preseason. I try to do my best possible to be able to play all the games I’ll have in a single season.
“I’m happy to be healthy, and hopefully … prepare to (extend the streak) in the future.”
Amahl Pellegrino leads the Quakes with seven goals.
Dallas beat visiting San Jose 2-1 on Feb. 24 in the season opener for both teams.
–Field Level Media