Photo credit: Russ Isabella – USA Today

By Pearl Allison Lo

CARSON, CA– It was another game in Los Angeles Galaxy’ Landon Donovan’s most memorable MLS moment, the California Clasico, as San Jose made their two chances count for a 2-2 draw Friday.

The Galaxy dominated but couldn’t find the edge they needed for a win. They had 24-3 attempts on goal, 10-2 in the first half.

The Quakes’ Chris Wondolowski scored first. After a blocked shot, Sam Cronin got the ball to Shea Salinas who ran it to Wondo. Wondo then used three touches to position himself and hit his mark straight into the right corner of the net in the 18th minute.

Los Angeles’ Gyasi Zardes finally got a ball through the net when he got a rebound off a San Jose defender in the 29th minute. Zardes’ goal was preceded by a Donovan pass to Robbie Keane. It was Zardes’ third straight goal in as many games. He had a missed header in the 28th minute and was constantly buzzing around the net .

The Quakes didn’t waste long to get back ahead. It started with a giveaway from Donovan. The ball then went to Atiba Harris, Wondolowski and the newcomer. Matias Perez Garcia’s shot hit goalie Jaime Penedo and bounced in in the 31st minute, for his first goal. Perez Garcia side slid in celebration and later seemed to be wiping away tears. Wondo now has an assist in three straight games for the first time in his career.

After the game regarding his goal, Perez Garcia said, “There was a good ball played into the middle and I didn’t have any doubts when it came to me and I just focused and hit it.” Wondolowski responded about his three assists, “”I always try to do whatever I can to help the team win, whether that is scoring goals, trying to set up goals or find the open guy. To be honest, all three of the goals that came from my assists were great finishes. I just made the pass to the open guy and my teammates did most of the work.”

It would have been a giveaway and another Zardes goal in the 41st minute, but he was offsides.

In the 49th minute, Galaxy Omar Gonzalez got a header off a corner from Stefan Ishizaki and bounced it in even again and made the score 2-2.

San Jose’s Victor Bernardez suffered a blow when he collided with a teammate in the 67th minute. He was down for awhile and ended up being subbed out for Ty Harden.

The Quakes got lucky again in the 92nd minute. It looked like Keane scored what could be the very last go-ahead goal, but it was called back by a foul.

Game notes: It was Perez Garcia’s debut as he was signed July 31st.  He ended up playing 83 minutes and  replaced Yannick Djalo, who could be out up to a month, after suffering a quad strain in the last game against Seattle.  It was both Donovan’s first game since he announced retirement and his 300th career start.  San Jose will host FC Dallas on Saturday the 16th at 7:30pm.