In a league with 30 teams, it was inevitable that a color scheme or two would end up matching. We’ve got at least three green teams now, a couple of yellow ones, and, worst of all, at least four different variations of black and blue, two of which are in the Western Conference. I’m dubbing this weekend’s showdown with the Quakes the Battle for Black and Blue, and the winner takes all: the nickname, the points, and, heck, we’ll even give them a sheet of gold star stickers to really sweeten the pot.

Minnesota United (10-4-7)

Run of Form: W-W-D-W-L (All competitions, no friendlies)

With the San Diego hiccup further and further in the rearview, your Loons have bounced right back to their usual selves. Two Texas takedowns, a New Jersey joint point, and a quality quarterfinal dub have effectively wiped our minds of that crazy performance against the league’s newest team (until I reminded you of it, of course). They’ve scored multiple goals in each of their last six games, proving that, though they’re known for their defensive prowess, that cutting edge is worth fearing as well — especially right now.

San Jose Earthquakes (7-7-7)

Run of Form: L-D-D-W-D (All competitions)

That record is so satisfying, isn’t it? Sure, 7-7-7 is only good enough for 28 points and sixth-place in the Western Conference, but the symmetry is just perfect. Their form, on the other hand, is less pleasing. That is, unless you’re about to play them. Despite being the second-highest scoring team in the league so far (41 goals), they’ve only managed to score more than once in two of their last five games. They're capable of some pretty earth-shaking stuff, but lately, it’s been a lot of show without a lot of damage.

Keys to the Match:

Now, Let’s Add a Little Bit of Spice

In San Jose’s last six matches, there have been a total of five red cards shown. Now, only two of those have been shown to Quakes’ players, but there’s a common denominator here, right? Games with Bruce Arena’s side have been getting awfully chippy lately. Nothing malicious, from what I’ve seen, but the mere presence of cards of any color ups the ante of any soccer game. The Quakes (45) have received nine more yellow cards than the Loons (36) this year, and three red cards to Minnesota’s zero. They’re not as card-happy as Philadelphia, who’ve racked up an impressive 58 yellows and two reds this season, but playing with the kind of heart and commitment that these Quakes exhibit naturally lends itself to a collision-heavy game. If the Loons want to take advantage of this, they could press a bit quicker to force mistakes and fouls in dangerous areas, much like they did for periods of the game against Dallas. Otherwise, sit back, let them work themselves up, and counter. Whatever they choose, they better remember to wear their shin guards.

The Quake-y Triumvirate

Two San Jose-focused keys? Oh, you betcha. We’ve gotta talk about Chicho Arango, Josef Martínez, and Cristian Espinoza. San Jose’s high-powered attacking trio have been doing exactly what the club hoped they would, producing some electric stuff and putting up serious numbers in the process. They’ve scored a whopping 22 goals between them, more than half of their team’s season total, adding 15 assists as well. Espinoza has thrived in the role of creator-facilitator, while Martínez and Arango have relished the chance to reap the benefits of his next-level service. Whether they start together or one of them enters the game as a sub, this group is going to cause some problems for the Loons. Their constant threat, paired with the first key, makes a conservative approach most appealing for the Loons. There’s no shame in relying on set pieces and counters to beat a talented, high-octane team that is more than capable of punishing even the stoutest of defenses.

Speaking of Set Pieces

Everyone’s talking about it. The most aggressive set piece team in the world? Yes sir, we are. No matter what the restart is — throw in, free kick, corner kick, etc. — the Loons have a habit of turning it into a goal-scoring opportunity. Some possession-obsessed pundits may ask one simple question: Why? I would answer just as simply: Why not? With nearly a third of their goals coming from set pieces this season, the Loons have proven that this approach can pay dividends, and it’s a great way to keep the opposition honest, level the playing field, and present a real threat that forces the opponent to adjust to your plans. It takes a whole lot of planning, practice, and comfort, but after two-thirds of a season, it’s clear that this piece of the Loons’ identity is firmly ingrained in every match they play. San Jose’s strength lies up top, meaning a few well-taken set pieces are bound to stretch their vulnerable defense, pull numbers back, and give the Loons an easy way to take the lead. If you weren’t already watching every dead ball closely, you’d better start now.