Streaking RSL ready to welcome struggling Quakes

Beating Real Salt Lake at home is becoming a virtually impossible task for other MLS teams this season.

Salt Lake has won six straight home matches, matching the club's longest home winning streak set during the 2014 season. RSL has a chance to set a new record when they host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.

History favors Salt Lake (7-7-1) to get it done. The Earthquakes have not won a match in Utah since 2013. They have come away with two losses and two draws in their last four road games against RSL.

Salt Lake could use a favorable result to regain some momentum after falling 3-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy on June 9 before the World Cup break. RSL fell apart in the second half, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in a six-minute span. It snapped Salt Lake's three-match winning streak.

RSL players are convinced those defensive breakdowns against the Galaxy are correctable.

"They just capitalized on our mistakes," defender Justen Glad said after the match. "I didn't think any of their goals were that impressive. I thought they were all stoppable for sure and goals change games."

Defensive breakdowns have been a season long issue for San Jose (2-9-4). The Earthquakes are mired in a six-match winless streak, in part because they can't stop opponents from finding the back of the net. San Jose has yielded 31 goals, tied for the most among MLS teams.

It has negated strong offensive play from striker Danny Hoesen in recent weeks. Hoesen helped the Earthquakes snap a four-match losing streak with a pair of goals in a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution on June 13.

He now has nine goals -- tied for fourth among MLS players this season.

"We're on the right track from the offensive perspective," coach Mikael Stahre said after the game. "But we concede too many goals. That's the problem for the moment."

Salt Lake has also had a tough time being consistent on defense. RSL has yielded 29 goals while scoring 19, giving them a scoring differential tied for second-worst among MLS teams.

It has been a different story at home. Salt Lake has outscored opponents 13-4 during the club's six-match winning streak and has posted three clean sheets in that stretch.

--Field Level Media