San Jose Earthquakes faced off against D.C. United in the inaugural MLS game on April 6, 1996, with Bruce Arena leading the latter team. Now, 30 seasons later and exactly 29 years from that historic day, Arena will be taking charge of the Earthquakes in a special anniversary match.
Although San Jose started the season strong under Arena’s guidance, winning their first two matches, they have since struggled to secure a victory in their last four games. As a result, they currently find themselves in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.
In that first MLS match back in 1996, Arena’s team suffered a 1-0 defeat against San Jose. This time around, he hopes his team can turn things around and get back to winning ways on this momentous occasion.
Reflecting on the past three decades of MLS, Arena, now 73 years old, expressed his excitement about the growth of soccer in the country. He stated, “It was an exciting time, and the goal was to really elevate the sport in our country, and I think 30 years later, we’ve done that. Obviously, there’s a lot more to do.” Arena has had an illustrious coaching career, having led the Olympic team, the national team, and now four different MLS teams. He considers it a privilege to still be involved in the sport after all these years and hopes to continue contributing for many more.
D.C. United has also struggled this season, managing just one win so far and currently sitting in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Like their opponents, they are on a winless streak, having failed to secure a victory in their last three matches.
Troy Lesesne, head coach of D.C. United, is thrilled to be a part of this unique occasion and reminisces about watching that first MLS match when he was just 12 years old. He recalls the scarcity of soccer on television at the time and the impact that match had on him. Lesesne is determined to celebrate the legacy of his club and put on a good performance in honor of this historic weekend.
In terms of players to watch, Josef Martinez of the San Jose Earthquakes has been a consistent threat against D.C. United throughout his career, scoring eight goals in 14 regular-season appearances against them. On the other side, Christian Benteke has been a key player for D.C. United, scoring 11 goals since MLS returned from the Leagues Cup break last season.
Considering their previous encounters, the Earthquakes won their last home match against D.C. United with a convincing 4-1 scoreline in 2021. However, they have struggled recently, collecting just one point from their last four matches. D.C. United started the season unbeaten in four matches but has since suffered two consecutive losses.
Based on these factors, the Opta win probability for this match stands at 38.2% for the San Jose Earthquakes, 26.5% for a draw, and 35.3% for D.C. United.
