Ricketts urges San Jose to stick together to end MLS losing run

San Jose Earthquakes defender Jamar Ricketts has urged his team to stay together as they chase a much-needed win against Austin FC.

San Jose made a stellar start to MLS in 2026, losing just one of their first 10 matches and winning the other nine.

However, they have won just one of the next 12 league games (D4 L7), but did end a five-game losing skid by drawing 0-0 with the Houston Dynamo last time out.

That run of form has seen them slide down the Western Conference, only as far as fourth, but they are one of three teams on 34 points, and a loss this weekend could see them slip further.

But Ricketts believes the 'Quakes have the right mentality to get back to winning ways against Austin.

"We're going to keep going out and working hard," Ricketts said. "Everything is tough, especially in this league and in this conference.

"The message is we need to win; we need to keep gaining points. We need to be focused at every moment of the game because all it takes is one slip-up and we could concede.

"I think as long as everybody's in it together, especially playing away and in a hotter climate, we'll be ready."

Austin, meanwhile, are on a good run heading into this game at Q2 Stadium, having gone unbeaten in their last three MLS games (W2 D1).

They remain 14th in the West, though they are only five points behind Minnesota United in the final playoff place.

Since beating Portland Timbers 2-1 last time out, Austin have bolstered their squad with the signing of defender Chris Applewhite on loan from Nashville SC through to June 2027.

"Chris is a highly rated prospect at the center-back position, and we're excited to welcome him to Austin," said interim head coach Davy Arnaud.

"He is coming off an excellent tournament with the U.S. Under-20 team, and we hope to foster his continued development within our environment over the next year."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Oleksandr Svatok

Oleksandr Svatok scored the match-winner for Austin in second-half stoppage time against Portland, his first goal of the season.

He also scored one goal in 2025, making him the sixth Ukrainian player to score in multiple MLS seasons (only Dema Kovalenko – 10 – has scored in more than two).

San Jose Earthquakes – Ousseni Bouda

Ousseni Bouda created four chances in San Jose's scoreless draw against Houston, while all other Earthquakes players combined for three chances created in the match.

Over his last three matches, Bouda has created 10 chances (3.3 per match) compared to his 19 across 19 MLS matches in 2026 prior to that.

MATCH PREDICTION: AUSTIN FC WIN

San Jose earned a 5-1 home win over Austin in April as they look to become the first team to sweep a season series in the fixture.

However, the home side has lost just once in the 13 meetings across all competitions (W5 D7).

Austin have earned more points over their last three MLS matches (seven, W2 D1) than they had registered in their previous eight MLS matches (four, W1 D1 L6). The Black and Verde have not gone four straight unbeaten in MLS in over a year (five-game streak, July-August 2025).

San Jose, meanwhile, ended a four-game losing streak with a 0-0 road draw at Houston; the Earthquakes have won one of their last 13 matches across all competitions (D4 L8). Since the beginning of May, San Jose join Seattle (one) as the only teams without multiple wins in MLS play.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 42.9%

Draw – 26.7%

San Jose Earthquakes – 30.4%