San Jose Earthquake and Los Angeles Galaxy players battle during a corner kick during their 2-2 draw at Stanford Stadium on Saturday July 1, 2023. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic and Titus Wilkinson

PALO ALTO, Calif. — If there is one to describe the California Classico, it’s drama.

So was the case in the 97th installment of the Classico as the San Jose Earthquakes battled to a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday evening before an announced crowd of 42,823 at Stanford Stadium.

San Jose is winless in its past four matches. Los Angeles is unbeaten in its past five matches including four straight ties.

San Jose (7-7-7-28 points) had a few quality scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the match but weren’t able to finish any of them past Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

The ‘Quakes controlled possession for most of the first half but it was the Galaxy that struck for the match’s first goal.

Los Angeles (3-9-7-16 points) drew first blood in the 31st minute off a set piece. Douglas Costa’s corner kick was headed into the back corner of the net by an unmarked Raheem Edwards for his first goal of the season.

“We created more danger (than LA did),” said ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzales. “The sloppiness was in the first five to 10 minutes of the second half and they took advantage of that. And we were chasing the game twice.”

The Earthquakes answered in the 42nd minute. Carlos Akapo intercepted a Galaxy clearing attempt inside the box. Akapo centered the ball back into the middle where Jack Skahan one-timed the ball past Bond for his first goal of the season.

The Galaxy regained the lead at the start of the second half. Costa set up Preston Judd in the middle of the box thanks to some lax defense by San Jose. Judd got in behind the defense and beat Quakes’ goalkeeper Daniel with a right footed shot to the left corner of the net for his third goal of the season in the 47th minute.

“That’s a heck of a midfield. It’s probably one of the best midfields in the league. I’m proud of our guys to respond. To not give up, push the game till the end. We would’ve liked to have gotten that third goal. So, I’m proud of my guys in terms of fighting and responding. And showing our fans we don’t give up,” Gonzales said.

It was a sloppy start to the second half for San Jose as they weren’t sharp with their passes that led to counter attacks for Los Angeles.

San Jose scored the equalizer in the 81st minute. Jackson Yueill sent a pass up to Christian Espinoza who shot the ball from just outside the box and it deflected off of the shoulder of Chris Mavinga and past an outstretched Bond for Espinoza’s team leading ninth goal of the season.

“I think it shows that we’re a resilient team,” said ‘Quakes captain Yueill. “We’re a team that doesn’t want to put our heads down. I’m proud of the guys for the effort, the attitude, the response. Overall, we’ll take this (point) and learn from it and get ready for next week.”

The drama happened near the end of the match as a controversial penalty was called in the 89th minute by referee Ramy Touchan when Daniel Aguirre was knocked down inside the box. However, after a VAR review Touchan overturned the call and San Jose escaped a potential disastrous ending.

“I saw it live, I saw it up on the large screen in the stadium and then on the replay after,” said Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney. “Once you make the call, there’s an extraordinary threshold that it takes to change that call back once you made that call. The reality is a player with his first leg fouls the player and his knee catches a little bit of the ball after he fouls the player. I just don’t understand it.”

Gonzalez substituted “energy guys” late in the second half with Benji Kikanovic and Ousseni Bouda. They subs brought fresh legs in a final attempt to get the game winning goal in stoppage to no avail.

Bond finished with two saves on four shots on target. Daniel made four saves on six shots in earning the draw along with Bond.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with seven corner kicks. Los Angeles had five.

Los Angeles leads the all-time series against San Jose 42-33-18. San Jose is 5-2-3 against Los Angeles at Stanford Stadium.

Tonight’s attendance marked the 8th most attended match this season in MLS. San Jose has played in two of the top 10 most attended matches in the league. The other was when they visited Atlanta and played in front of a crowd of 67,538.

UP NEXT: San Jose visits LAFC on Saturday 7/8 at 7:30pm at BMO Stadium.