Tag: California Clasico

California Classico-Earthquakes battle to 1-1 draw with Galaxy

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Galaxy’s Marco Reus, right, punches in a goal during the second half against the San José Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on Sat Jun 28, 2025 (Getty photo)

PALO ALTO, Calif. — In what felt like a game they should’ve earned three points, the San Jose Earthquakes settled for a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 104th California Clasico on Saturday evening at Stanford Stadium

San Jose has earned points in nine of their last 10 matches with only one loss in the past six weeks. Los Angeles remained with just one win on the season but have earned a point in two of its past three matches.

“A tale of two halves, yeah,” said Quakes head coach Bruce Arena. “It was a real rivalry match and very physical on a tight field. Surface wasn’t perfect because they just laid down the field, but I give Galaxy credit. We didn’t play well in the second half, and you can attribute a lot to the Galaxy. … I think Daniel made some really big saves, as did their keeper at the end of the game. But that was a rivalry game. Regardless of record, there’s a history, and it’s always good to see.

The San Jose Earthquakes drew with the LA Galaxy 1-1 on Saturday night in the 104th California Clasico at Stanford Stadium presented by El Camino Health in front of a crowd of 42,881 fans, the fifth-highest attended game in Major League Soccer this season.

The Earthquakes drew first blood with a nine-pass display in the 16th minute that resulted in Mark-Anthony Kaye finding Beau Leroux, who turned and rifled a shot from the top of the box into the upper right corner of the net past the outstretched Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic for his fourth goal of the season sending the crowd of 42,881 into a frenzy.

“Mark-Anthony Kaye opens up and finds me in the pocket. I already had it in my mind that I was going to touch it and hit it. And when I hit it, I thought it was actually hitting the crossbar and going out, because that happens a lot for me. But I then I saw it hit the back of the net, and that was a surreal moment.”

The Galaxy came out with an aggressive approach after halftime, and their hard work paid off in the 70th minute, when Marco Reus scored the equalizer. Reus fired a shot on Quakes goalkeeper Daniel who made the initial save, but Reus collected his own rebound and buried the ball past Quakes goalkeeper Daniel to into an open net for his tied for the team lead in goals with his fourth of the season

Los Angeles kept the pressure on as Daniel made two outstanding saves to keep the Galaxy from taking a late lead in the match. First in the 75th minute he stoned away Mauricio Cuevas’s right-footed attempt from the right side of the box. Then in the 88th, Daniel made his best save of the match when he made a one-handed save on Gabriel Pec’s point-blank side from the left of the box that went over the net.

Micovic kept the game even in the 72nd minute when he was in perfect position to knock away a right-footed blast from Cristian Arango from 12 yards out in the middle of the box.

San Jose had one final chance for the game winning goal in the 94th minute, Leroux’s cross from the right wing was headed just wide of the net and the rivals split the points at Stanford.

Daniel finished with six saves on seven shots while Micovic made two on three shots.

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

San Jose moved to 29-40-18 (126 GF, 142 GA) against the LA Galaxy in MLS play overall, and 18-16-12 (69 GF, 68 GA) at home.

On the heels of their May 28 1-0 win in Carson, the Quakes went unbeaten in the regular-season series against LA for the first time since 2019. That year, San Jose won 3-0 on June 29 at Stanford Stadium and 3-1 on July 12 in Carson.

Tonight’s match was the fifth-most attended in MLS this season:
65,520 Atlanta United vs. CF Montréal (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Feb. 22)
62,358 Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami CF (Soldier Field, April 13)
60,614 Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami CF (Cleveland Browns Stadium, April 19)
51,002 Charlotte FC vs. Atlanta United (Bank of America Stadium, March 1)
42,881 San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy (Stanford Stadium, June 28)

The Quakes are now second in the league in team goals with 40 after scoring one tonight. They continue to lead MLS with 42.29 expected goals.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday July 5th at 7:30pm at PayPal Park.

Third Time Not a Charm for Quakes to Capture Clasico Magic

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew Harrington

STANFORD, Calif. – There would be no customary rally for the San Jose eleven Saturday night at Stanford Stadium, snapping a streak of thrilling come-from-behind wins in the clash of California sides. Earthquakes supporters expecting the customary late California Clasico offensive burst instead had to settle for the explosions the of post-game fireworks with the Quakes long since retired to their locker room to dwell on the 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

For the first time in three years, the Earthquakes (4-6-4) had no answer for the Los Angeles Galaxy. San Jose didn’t need three second-half goals like in 2012, nor did they need stoppage time goals from Shea Salinas and Alan Gordon as they did last season. No, the Quakes needed a lone strike to salvage a point. Unfortunately for the men in blue, time ran out on this year’s comeback bid despite a valiant second half.

“We knew that our performance where it needed to be in the first half,” said Watson. “We had a few moments, we had a few chances. I thought LA dictated the play. We knew we’d have to come out with more energy and use the ball better.”

The two teams battled to a standstill after 45 minutes of play, matching each other move for move. Los Angeles attempted eight shots on goal to the Quakes’ seven, but neither side converted. The two sides appeared even in possession, though LA controlled the play for 55% of the opening half. It was San Jose striker Steven Lenhart however, that had the best chances of the half. Lenhart narrowly missed putting the ball into the back of the net on a pair of headers that beat LA keeper Jaime Penedo but trickled wide of the goalpost.

Gyasi Zardes erased the clean sheet in the 62nd minute, firing a point-blank rocket from dead center past a defenseless Jon Busch to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead. The Galaxy forward was set up on his third goal of the season by Marcelo Sarvas who, with his back to the keeper, found Zardes squared up on goal for the strike. In total, Los Angeles had 17 attempts on net to 13 for the home squad. Five went on goal for Los Angeles, one for the Quakes.

“Our guys competed all night,” said Earthquakes coach Mark Watson. “I thought they just had a little bit more quality on the night. I think it was a game where there wasn’t that many chances. I think we had an equal number of scoring chances, we just couldn’t finish them.”

LA nearly double its advantage in the 72nd minute after midfielder Stefan Ishizaki lofted a shot on net from just outside the penalty box corner to the right of Busch. The ball beat Busch’s cross-body dive and rang off the back post. A Quakes defender swooped in to clear the ball from a hungry Zardes and allow the San Jose netminder to regain position.

Naturally, the man who coined the “Goonies” nickname for San Jose nearly gave the home side new life with a late equalizer. In the 88th minute, Lenhart once again used his head to advance on the Galaxy net. Penedo narrowly managed to get his left fingertips on the bid to preserve his shutout, while Los Angeles (5-3-5) weathered the final surge to nab the three points and hold San Jose off from the seventh spot in the Western Conference. The Galaxy entered play one point (17 total) ahead of the Quakes entering play Saturday. LA continued a five-game unbeaten streak.
San Jose received some bad news before even taking the pitch, as centerback Clarence Goodson was a late scratch after aggravating an injury in warm-ups.

“(Clarence) pulled his groin in the warm-up,” said Watson. “We had to make a late substitution, which was disappointing. We worked with Clarence, he’s a big part of our team. I thought Jason Hernandez came in and did a fantastic job. He had 10 or 15 minutes to get himself mentally prepared and he did what he always does. He battled hard and gave everything he had.”

The Quakes were also short Shea Salinas with an injury while Chris Wondolowski and Victor Bernardez performed World Cup duties. While Bernardez and Honduras were ousted from the preeminent tournament of soccer after group play, he wasn’t quite on a time table to return to MLS play just yet.

“It was going to be close,” said Watson on the status of Bernardez Saturday. “We knew that. He played Wednesday in Brazil. It’s a long flight. He just didn’t feel he could give one hundred percent. He’ll be ready for Wednesday.”

The Quakes may also have Salinas back in the line-up Wednesday at Buck Shaw Stadium when they welcome Chivas USA to the Bay Area. The Quakes previously snapped a season-opening five-game winless streak by topping Chivas 1-0 at Buck Shaw on April 26th.