San Jose Earthquakes vs. Austin FC Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 19 October 2025

As we approach the final round of Major League Soccer, the contest between San Jose Earthquakes and Austin FC at PayPal Park is poised to be a gripping encounter. San Jose, finding themselves in 21st place in the standings with 38 points, are looking to end their season on a high note. Meanwhile, Austin FC sits in 15th place with 47 points, striving to maintain their mid-table position.

Coach Bruce Arena will look to his top scorer, Josef Martinez, who has netted 13 goals, to lead the attack. Despite their weak defense, San Jose has been scoring consistently, finding the back of the net in 12 consecutive matches. On the other side, Austin’s Myrto Uzuni, topping their scoring chart with 6 goals, will be essential for their offense.

Given both teams’ attacking prowess and defensive frailties, our prediction is for both teams to score. Historically, clashes between these sides have seen plenty of goals, making this a match not to miss for football fans.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Austin FC Prediction & Betting tip

The recommended bet for this fixture is "Both teams to score (BTTS – Yes)". Here’s why this bet is a solid choice:

• Consistent Scoring: San Jose has scored in 12 consecutive league matches, showcasing their capability to find the net no matter the opposition.
• Mutual Defensive Weaknesses: Both teams have shown vulnerabilities at the back, each keeping only one clean sheet in their last five games.
• Historical Trends: In their previous encounters, both teams scored in four of their last five matches, indicating a strong likelihood of goals on both ends.

Despite San Jose sitting at 21st place and Austin FC in 15th, their attacking intentions and fragile defenses set the stage for a goal-fest.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Austin FC Odds

Understanding the odds can greatly enhance your viewing and betting experience for this matchup. Here’s a breakdown of the current odds for the San Jose Earthquakes vs Austin FC fixture:

San Jose Earthquakes are the bookmakers’ favorites despite their lower league position. The odds reflect the home advantage at PayPal Park and the historical trend of consistent scoring.

Austin FC, while not the favorites, have a decent chance with odds of 3.63. The draw offers an intriguing option at 3.92, considering past encounters often being closely contested.

With these odds, you have a variety of betting options that account for different potential outcomes in this exciting MLS clash.

San Jose Earthquakes Team Analysis

San Jose Earthquakes Recent Performance:

San Jose Earthquakes have had a turbulent recent run in Major League Soccer, showing a form of LLLWL in their last five games. They’ve struggled with consistent performances, notching a vital win against San Diego FC but suffering heavy defeats to Vancouver Whitecaps, St. Louis City, and Los Angeles FC.

In these five matches, San Jose averaged 1.20 goals per game, reflecting their ability to find the net but also highlighting their defensive frailties. They’ve managed just one clean sheet, underscoring their difficulties at the back. Bruce Arena’s side will look to end the season positively, despite their low standings.

Their consistent scoring in 12 consecutive matches offers a glimmer of hope for a strong finish at PayPal Park. Tackling Austin FC will be another stern test, given their recent ups and downs.

San Jose Earthquakes Key Players

San Jose Earthquakes will be banking on their top scorer Josef Martinez, who has netted 13 goals this season, to spearhead their attack. Martinez will be pivotal in breaking down the Austin FC defense with his clinical finishing and knack for finding gaps. Cristian Espinoza, playing as the right forward, is another key player, known for his creativity and ability to deliver crucial passes.

Expected lineup for San Jose Earthquakes:

• Goalkeeper: Daniel
• Defenders: Max Floriani, Daniel Munie, Reid Roberts
• Midfielders: Benjamin Kikanovic, Ian Harkes, Ronaldo Vieira, Ousseni Bouda
• Forwards: Cristian Espinoza, Josef Martinez, Cristian Arango

Key individual battles will include Martinez facing off against Austin’s central defender Mateja Djordjevic, while Espinoza’s duel with Austin’s left-back Guilherme Biro could determine the flow on the flanks. These confrontations will be crucial to San Jose’s attacking dynamics.

San Jose Earthquakes Suspensions & Injuries

San Jose Earthquakes will have to cope without key players due to injuries. Both DeJuan Jones and Vitor Costa are sidelined with muscle injuries and are expected to return in late October.

Without Jones, the Earthquakes will miss a vital component of their defensive line, which has already been struggling, having just one clean sheet in their last five matches. Vitor Costa’s absence will also hinder their midfield’s depth and versatility, potentially impacting their ball control and distribution.

Bruce Arena will need to make tactical adjustments to mitigate these absences, relying on his remaining squad to step up, particularly in defense where their issues have been most pronounced this season. Fortunately, no suspensions are affecting the team currently, allowing Arena to field his strongest possible lineup from the available players.

San Jose Earthquakes Tactics and Formation

San Jose Earthquakes Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Josef Martinez, pivotal with 13 goals this season.
• Midfield Trio: Ian Harkes, Ronaldo Vieira, Benjamin Kikanovic
• Defensive Strength: Struggling, with just one clean sheet in the last five games.
• Notable Strategy: Strong in the final 15 minutes, scoring most goals between the 76-90 minute interval.

Bruce Arena’s side has consistently stuck to an attacking formation, leveraging the 4-3-3 setup. The focus is clearly on outscoring opponents, with Martinez at the forefront of their attack. The midfield trio is expected to link up play effectively and support both the defense and forward line.

Given their defensive troubles, the Earthquakes often rely on a proactive approach, aiming to outgun opponents by maintaining constant attacking pressure throughout the match. This tactic has resulted in a high number of goals but also left them vulnerable at the back.

Austin FC Team Analysis

Austin FC Recent Performance:

Austin FC’s recent form has been a mixed bag, showcasing a sequence of WLLLW in their last five fixtures. Although they have had their share of struggles, their victories against Los Angeles FC and Seattle Sounders FC highlight their potential.

Austin FC averaged 1.20 goals per game over these five matches, matching San Jose’s scoring average but illustrating their consistency upfront. They have also managed just one clean sheet, indicating defensive vulnerabilities similar to their opponents.

Under coach Nico Estévez, the team will aim to solidify their spot in the mid-table, driven by key players such as top scorer Myrto Uzuni, who has netted 6 goals this season. Tackling San Jose away will be a formidable challenge, yet their recent win against LAFC provides a confidence boost as they seek to finish the season strong.

Austin FC Key Players

Austin FC relies heavily on their key players to deliver strong performances. Top scorer Myrto Uzuni, with 6 goals this season, will be crucial in their attacking efforts. Equally important are the contributions of Osman Bukari and Owen Wolff, who add depth and versatility to the forward line.

Expected lineup for Austin FC:

• Goalkeeper: Brad Stuver
• Defenders: Brendan Hines-Ike, Mateja Djordjevic, Oleksandr Svatok
• Midfielders: Mikkel Desler, Besard Sabovic, Daniel Pereira, Guilherme Biro
• Forwards: Osman Bukari, Myrto Uzuni, Owen Wolff

Key individual battles to watch will be Uzuni trying to outmaneuver San Jose’s Reid Roberts, and Bukari squaring off against Max Floriani on the wing. These matchups will be pivotal in determining the outcome of the game, especially given both teams’ proclivity for scoring and defensive lapses.

Austin FC Suspensions & Injuries

Austin FC will be missing a key player due to injury in this clash. Striker Brandon Vázquez is out with a cruciate ligament injury and is not expected to return until late March 2026.

Vázquez’s absence is a significant loss for Austin FC, as his presence up front adds an additional goal-scoring threat. This will put more pressure on other forwards, like Myrto Uzuni and Osman Bukari, to step up in the attack. Coach Nico Estévez will need to rely on his remaining squad to find alternative ways to break down San Jose’s defense.

There are no suspensions currently affecting Austin FC, which allows Estévez to field a strong team from the available squad.

Austin FC Tactics and Formation

Austin FC Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-3
• Key Forward: Myrto Uzuni, who has scored 6 goals this season.
• Midfield Pair: Besard Sabovic and Daniel Pereira, pivotal in controlling the tempo.
• Defensive Strength: Only one clean sheet in their last five matches, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities.

Nico Estévez often employs a flexible 3-4-3 formation designed to balance offensive potency with defensive stability. The front three, led by Uzuni, are tasked with breaking down defenses through quick, incisive play, while the midfield is anchored by the industrious Sabovic and Pereira.

Despite their defensive struggles, their strategy usually sees a strong midfield pressing and quick transitions. However, with only one clean sheet in recent matches, they might adapt to shore up their defense against a high-scoring San Jose side. Their tactical agility will be critical in managing the game’s ebb and flow, especially away from home.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Austin FC Head-to-Head Statistics

The recent head-to-head encounters between San Jose Earthquakes and Austin FC have painted a picture of high-scoring and tightly contested affairs. Over their last five matches:

• 31 August 2025: Austin FC 3 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
• 09 July 2025: San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 1 Austin FC (US Open Cup) – Austin won 4-2 on penalties
• 26 May 2024: San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 1 Austin FC (MLS)
• 07 April 2024: Austin FC 4 – 3 San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
• 22 October 2023: San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 1 Austin FC (MLS)

These encounters reveal a trend where both teams frequently find the back of the net, with four of the last five matches having both sides score. Historically, San Jose and Austin have had evenly matched battles, often resulting in draws or narrow victories. This pattern suggests we can expect another tightly fought game with goals from both teams.

Odds accurate as of 17/10/2025 02:01, and are subject to change.
Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.