The San Jose Earthquakes Starting XI posed for the cameras before their match against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 105th California Classico at Stanford Stadium on Saturday JUL 25, 2026. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

PALO ALTO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes battled to the very end in a dramatic 1-1 draw in the 105th California Classico on Saturday evening at Stanford Stadium.

San Jose has earned points in two of its last three matches. Los Angeles extended its winless streak to four matches with the draw.

San Jose was without captain Ronaldo Vieira and forward Preston Judd who were suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation from their last match against Orlando City. Los Angeles was without striker João Klauss who was placed on the Injured List back on May 13th.

Los Angeles (5-7-6-21 points) drew first blood in the 12th minute. Harbor Miller started a counterattack down the right wing. Miller found Marco Reus in the middle of the pitch. Reus made a quick pass out to Joesph Paintsil on the left wing and the Ghanian striker beat Quakes goalkeeper Angus Gunn with a right-footed shot for his fourth goal of the season.

San Jose (10-4-3-33 points) had two quality chances in the first ten minutes of a wide open first half. In the ninth minute, Jack Skahan had a golden attempt from inside the box after a nice centering feed from Ousseni Bouda. However, Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski kept it from going into the back of the net. A minute later a cross into the box from Timo Werner crept out to Nick Fernandez but his shot attempt sailed wide right.

The Earthquakes dominated the first 10 minutes of the second half with chances from Timo Werner and Benji Kinkanovic. A shot from Werner from the left wing was stoned away by Marcinkowski in the 50th minute. Then in the 54th minute the former Quakes goalkeeper stopped a header attempt by Kikanovic.

San Jose finally hit paydirt in the 63rd minute off of a set piece. Werner’s free kick from 20 yards out was deflected off of the head of a Galaxy defender that caromed off of the crossbar. The rebound found Kikanovic who sent the ball toward the net where a crashing Reid Roberts tapped it home for his second goal of the season.

The Quakes had a golden chance to win the game late in stoppage time. Bouda was tripped up by Marcinkowski inside the box in the 5th minute of stoppage time resulting in a penalty. The ensuing kick by Werner was denied by a diving save from Marcinkowski to help steal away two additional points for San Jose.

Marcinkowski finished the match with five saves on six shots on target. Gunn made one save on two shots to earn his first point in a Quakes kit.

GAME NOTES: Both squads finished the match with six corner kicks.

UP NEXT: San Jose heads back out on the road to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday August 1st at 4:30pm at TQL Stadium.