SJ Quakes beat LA Galaxy and earn the Cali Clasico
San Jose Earthquakes’ Andres Rios (25) controls the ball against the Philadelphia Union in the second half at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
2020.10.04 – Andres Rios scored on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute and the host San Jose Earthquakes beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 to earn another Cali Clasico win.
It was the second consecutive game the Earthquakes rallied for a 2-1 victory, doing the same against Los Angeles FC on Sept. 27. The Galaxy lost their fourth consecutive game to fall into the basement of the conference standings.
“Tonight, we felt joy. The players in these last two games have given a whole lot. They are believing more in themselves, and luckily after a long time we were able to train for one week straight,” head coach Matias Almeyda said postgame, per the team’s website. “I think today we faced a very difficult opponent, the previous game as well, and we were able to be competitive and get the victory.”
Rios’ opportunity from the penalty spot came after San Jose’s Shea Salinas was fouled in the penalty area by Galaxy defender Rolf Feltscher. It was the third goal of the season for Rios.
The Galaxy (4-7-3, 15 points) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute when Sebastian Lletget scored a goal. The Earthquakes (4-6-5, 17 points) drew even in the 42nd minute when Marcos Lopez scored his first of the season and first in MLS.
2020.10.04 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy) MLS Highlights!
2020.10.04 – (SJ Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy) MLS Highlights!
San Jose has given up just two goals in its past two games following consecutive humbling defeats where they lost to the Colorado Rapids and the Portland Timbers by a combined 11-1 score.
Looking to get striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez going, the Galaxy had a promising start. After a centering pass from Cristian Pavon, Chicharito fired a left-footed shot off the right post. Lletget pounced on the rebound and fired a shot past San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.
The goal was Lletget’s sixth of the season to tie him with Pavon for the team lead.
The Earthquakes got even just before halftime. Lopez took a pass from Nick Lima, found space on the left side of goal, and fired a left-footed shot across the penalty area and into the top right corner of the goal past Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham.
“We never give up and want to always move forward,” Lopez said after the game. “We are overcoming our bad streak. We are fighting hard and this team has a lot to give to this league and to compete.”
The game marked the Galaxy debut for forward Yony Gonzalez, who was acquired on loan in August from S.L. Benfica in Portugal. Gonzalez entered in the 72nd minute for Lletget.
The Earthquakes had a chance to tie the game in the 12th minute, but Chris Wondolowski’s penalty shot to the low right corner of goal was saved on a dive by Bingham.
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UP NEXT:
The San Jose Earthquakes host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday 10/7 at 7:30pm at Avaya Stadium.
Quakes, seeking 3rd straight win, face Whitecaps
The San Jose Earthquakes, who have some newfound momentum, will look to record their third straight victory when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.
The ninth-place Earthquakes (4-6-5, 17 points) are just one point behind the playoff line in the West — Real Salt Lake sits in eighth place — after posting consecutive 2-1 victories over Los Angeles FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The impressive results follow an nine-match regular-season stretch in which San Jose went 0-6-3.
“I think getting into a playoff spot is what that is right now,” defender Nick Lima told reporters of the quest, “and we go out there each game with that goal in the back of our minds. We’re trying to get that.”
The Whitecaps (5-10-0, 15 points) are in the midst of a three-game slide in which they have been outscored 10-1. They dropped a 3-1 decision against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
The rough span has increased speculation that second-year coach Marc Dos Santos might not be retained following the season. Vancouver is 13-26-10 during his tenure.
“I can’t control what people outside think,” Dos Santos said. “I respect the opinion of everybody. You have to talk to the club about that, not me. You have to talk to people who make decisions. I have another year on my contract and I want to be here.”
Part of the challenge for the Whitecaps is not being able to play at home in Vancouver due to Canada’s COVID-19 travel protocols.
The team is being housed in Portland for the rest of the season as it tries to chase down a playoff spot.
“We’re up against a lot of adversity,” forward Tosaint Ricketts said. “We’re away from home for a lot of games and it’s a battle. … We still have opportunity here. There is a lot to play for.”
The Earthquakes share that thought — especially after a double dose of feel-good victories.
“We felt joy,” San Jose coach Matias Almeyda said after the Saturday win over the Galaxy. “The players in these last two games have given a whole lot. They are believing more in themselves.”
The turnaround follows a stretch in which the Earthquakes lost by five or more goals three times in a five-game span.
Read more at: San Jose Earthquakes Media Services / MLS.com /
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