EARTHQUAKES VS. HOUSTON

KICKOFF: 8 p.m. Friday at Avaya Stadium. TV: UniMas. RADIO: KLIV (1590) and KZSF (1370). EARTHQUAKES UPDATE: San Jose (7-6-10) got the road monkey off its back Friday in Vancouver with a 2-1 victory over the Whitecaps. The Quakes had played to six draws in their previous 11 road matches. Forward Quincy Amarikwa, who scored the first goal against Vancouver, said while getting at least a draw on the road has been the objective all year, the win was an uplifter late in the season. “We have been fighting really hard on the road,” Amarikwa said. “There were a few road games before this one where we really felt like we should have came away with three points, but it’s never easy to win on the road. Hopefully those draws turn into wins.” Friday’s win also helped the Quakes leap over Vancouver into seventh place in the Western Conference. With the Quakes one point behind Portland for a playoff spot, Amarikwa said he senses that momentum will carry over into the match against Houston. “Confidence and wins play into the next match and it just keeps building,” Amarikwa said. “We’re poised to do well in this run to the playoffs.”… The Earthquakes are 5-3-1 all-time at home against Houston, which sits last in the Western Conference. … San Jose is undefeated in five consecutive games.… Defender Kofi Sarkodie remains sidelined by a left ankle injury. HOUSTON UPDATE: The Dynamo (4-10-9) played to a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Sunday. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but persistent lightning delayed the match a day.… Houston’s draw pushed the team’s winless streak to six games.… Despite Houston’s struggles all year, the defense has remained strong, particularly under interim coach Wade Barrett. The Dynamo has allowed one goal or fewer in 10 of 11 games under Barrett.