Earthquakes face rival club in Saturday derby
Ticket demand is up sharply after last season's controversial finish.
Saturday's derby carries more weight than usual. Last season's meeting between these two clubs ended in a controversial stoppage-time penalty call that decided both the match and, eventually, playoff seeding.
Ticket demand reflects it — the match is already sold out, with the away supporters' section expanded for the first time in three years to accommodate demand.
The Earthquakes enter healthier than they've been in months, with their starting midfield fully fit for the first time this season. Their opponents, meanwhile, are missing their leading scorer to suspension — a fact San Jose's coach was careful not to gloat about this week.
“We're not thinking about last year,” he said, in a tone that suggested everyone in the room was thinking about exactly that.