The San Jose Earthquakes Oswaldo Alanis (4)  and the Los Angles Galaxy’s Jonathan Dos Santos (8) meet before their match at Avaya Stadium in San Jose on Sun Sep 13th, 2020 (@SJEarthquakes photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The difference between two extra points is a matter of inches.

For the San Jose Earthquakes that was the case as a potential game winning goal in the final minutes was waved off due to an offside call that resulted in a 0-0 draw with their SoCal rival the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday evening at Earthquakes Stadium.

In the 89th minute of the match, Marcos Lopez centered a ball into the middle of the box where Andy Rios was able to kick it past Galaxy goalkeeper for what would have been a 1-0 lead for San Jose. However Rios left a split second too early and was flagged for offsides, negating the goal.

San Jose, despite picking up a point, remains winless in five consecutive games (0-3-2) since coming back from the bubble in Orlando. LA’s three-game winning streak was snapped but their point streak continued at four games.

The second installment of the California Classico of the season featured quality scoring chances by both teams throughout the match, however both goalkeepers played spoilers as they kept the ball out of their nets.

San Jose controlled the possession battle in the first half with a 56.7%-43.3% edge. Their defensive play was a major upgrade after a humiliating 7-1 loss to Seattle just three nights earlier.

Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham was the man of the first half stoning away two quality scoring chances by the Quakes.

First in the 18th minute off a free kick by Jackson Yueill, Bingham punched Yueill’s ball back into the middle where Guram Kashia’s first attempt was kicked away by Bingham. Kashia recovered the ball and his second attempt sailed wide left.

Then in the 34th minute, Yueill received the ball from 12 yards out and his shot was knocked aside to the right by Bingham resulting in a corner kick San Jose failed to cash in.

Los Angeles controlled play in the final five minutes of the first half. Efrain Álvarez came within inches of breaking the deadlock when his left footed shot from 20 yards out hit the right post in the 42nd minute.

In the second half, it was Quakes goalie Daniel Vega’s turn to play heroics as the Galaxy controlled play in a 23 minute stretch from the 57th minute to the 80th minute of play.

Sebastian Lletget’s header from the center of the box was saved by Daniel Vega in the 75th minute. It was one of LA’s best chances to score but were left frustrated.

San Jose ended up winning the possession battle 56.6%-43.4%.

Both Bingham and Vega finished the match with two saves a piece.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had six corner kicks. Los Angeles had eight.

The Galaxy were issued two yellow card during the match Daniel Steres received one in the 17th minute for a dangerous tackle on Shea Salinas and Julian Araujo received at the end of the match for persistent infringement . San Jose’s Nick Lima received a yellow card in the 3rd minute of the match for unsporting behavior.

San Jose is 0-1-1 against the Galaxy this season and are 4-2-2 in their last eight matches.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Portland Timbers on Wednesday 9/16 at 6:30pm at Earthquakes Stadium.