LA Galaxy San Jose Earthquakes match recap

An early Juninho golazo wasn't enough for LA, as the Galaxy were unable to overcome mental mistakes and tired legs, falling to the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 before a sellout crowd of 50,422 at Spartan Stadium.

Less than a minute into the game, the Earthquakes blew an opportunity to snatch the early lead when a San Jose corner kick fortuitously bounced to Wondo two yards in front of goal, but Jaime Penedo was there to miraculously paw the shot away from point-blank range. Penedo would come up big later in the half to deny Shea Salinas on a dangerous breakaway opportunity, cleanly stripping the ball away as the winger attempted to dribble around the keeper.

Despite the narrow dimensions of Spartan Stadium, the Galaxy often found themselves with room to operate on the counter-attack. Early on Gyasi Zardes galloped down the field, forcing Victor Bernardez to chop down the forward just outside the box before Stefan Ishizaki sent a low swerving free kick into the arms of goalkeeper David Bingham.

Not soon later, a San Jose turnover led to Zardes racing down the field again, drawing two defenders before passing to a wide open Robbie Keane, but with Keane leaning away from the goal, he could only manage a weak shot that went straight to Bingham.

In the 17th minute, Juninho stunned the crowd when a Fatai Alashe clearance trickled to the Brazilian and he unleashed a 30 yard rocket that knuckled away from Bingham into the bottom right corner of the net.

#SJvLA pic.twitter.com/eKkaHoyHWx

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 28, 2015

The goal was Juninho's third in three games.

However, San Jose equalized ten minute later thanks to the industrious work of Chris Wondolowski. After winning the ball from Dan Gargan and finding Perez Garcia on the wing, Perez Garcia beat Leonardo before clipping a low cross right into the stride of Wondo, who made no mistake this time, slamming his shot into the net.

After the goal San Jose began to pick up steam as both teams traded half-chances. Right before halftime, a Ishizaki corner kick curved to a streaking Lletget outside the box, unfortunately his well-met shot went right to Bingham.

A head to head collision between Omar Gonzalez and Clarence Goodson eventually forced the Galaxy center back to leave the game at the half, a huge loss for LA.

San Jose continued to press, and in the 53rd minute took the lead when a Perez Garcia corner was easily glanced home at the near post by Clarence Goodson.

The Earthquakes continued to grow in confidence and were now in firm control of the game. Noticeably fatigued after playing their third game in seven days, LA fought to get back into the match but struggled to generate any offense.

In the 72nd minute San Jose finished the game off. Shea Salinas probed the Galaxy back line before squaring to substitute Cordell Cato, and Cato cut inside to evade a Dan Gargan challenge before sweeping a left footed shot under Penedo.

With the loss, the winless steak for the Galaxy on the road extends to 16 games. LA will play the Quakes once again in the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday at Avaya Stadium.