Galaxy, San Jose, Tie One On in Clasico

Sebastian Lletget sends the ball into the box that the Quakes Marvell Wynn puts in his own-goal! (Photo by Duane Barker)

Sebastian Lletget sends the ball into the box that the Quakes Marvell Wynn puts in his own-goal! (Photo by Duane Barker)

By Tim Peterson

(Carson) – The Galaxy and San Jose battled to a 1-1 tie in the California Clasico before a sold out StubHub Center crowd of 27,167 Sunday.

Both goals came late in the contest. The Galaxy got on the board in the 83rd minute on an own goal when San Jose’s Marvelle Wynne tried to redirect a cross and knocked it by keeper David Bingham. But LA couldn’t hold on when three minutes later Fatai Alashe used his head to deflect a cross by Brian Rowe to even things up. Three minutes of time were added but neither team was able to break the deadlock.

The Galaxy’s first opportunity came in the tenth minute when Robbie Keane headed a pass from Steven Gerrard toward the goal but it bounced high over the net.

Later in the half Rowe made a nice save on an attempt right in front of the net. A nifty move and pass by Giovani Dos Santos was broken up just outside the box in the 20th minute.

Daniel Steres and Chris Wondolowski have a meeting of the minds! (Photo by Duane Barker)

Daniel Steres and Chris Wondolowski have a meeting of the minds! (Photo by Duane Barker)

San Jose’s Alberto Quintero was hit with a yellow card for a takedown on Robbie Rogers in the 23rd minute.

Chris Wondolowski had a golden chance to put the Earthquakes up in the 38th minute with a clear shot on Rowe but the Galaxy caught a break when he hit the left post.

Two minutes of time were added in the first half. Wondolowski fired high in the extra time and the teams went into the break scoreless.

Dos Santos tried to place a cross to Ashley Cole in the 60th minute but it was just off target and sailed wide left.

Jelle Van Damme puts pressure on the Quake defense. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Jelle Van Damme puts pressure on the Quake defense. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Sebastian Lletget replaced Mike Magee in the 66th minute.

Dos Santos was knocked down in the 70th minute but there was no penalty on the play. Two minutes later in the 72nd dos Santos got off a rocket that struck the cross bar just over the head of Bingham.

Robbie Keane got loose on a break away in the 78th minute but Bingham made a sprawling save. A nice feed off of the head of Gyasi Zardes sprung him.

The Galaxy was still buzzing late in the half. Dos Santos booted one over the bar in the 79th minute before LA finally broke through on the own goal in the 83rd. Alashe then got the equalizer three minutes later.

Alan Gordon entered the game in the 90th minute but neither the Galaxy nor the Quakes were able to cash in in the extra time.

“I thought our second half we played very well. We created enough chances to score a couple of goals,” said Galaxy coach Bruce Arena. “But then we got caught on a corner kick, lost our concentration a little bit and #27 (Alashe) ran past three of our players. At that point in the game we’re tied and we need to concentrate and take the three points and get out of here.”

The Galaxy ran their record to 5-1-5 with the draw while the Earthquakes are now 5-3-4.

 

 

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