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LA Galaxy draw San Jose Earthquakes in wild California Clasico

By Mike Gray
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports


Another California Clasico, another exhilarating game of soccer.

Giovani dos Santos' header should have been enough, but Chad Barrett scored in the 90th minute as the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes drew Saturday night before 50,816 at Stanford Stadium.


The first half was difficult for LA as they withheld an onslaught of pressure from the Quakes, who outshot the Galaxy 12-1. Brian Rowe had to deny Martin Quintero on a breakaway, while Chad Barrett was unlucky to have his chip shot from inside the box smack the crossbar.

Like any California Clasico, the action picked up in the second half. Steven Gerrard was unfortunate on two occasions, first when his low powerful shot off a Earthquakes clearance hit the goal post, then soon afterwards his effort following an intricate give-and-go with Giovani dos Santos was able to beat goalkeeper David Bingham, but the defense was there to make the clearance. 

But in the 69th minute, the Galaxy would pull ahead. Steven Gerrard sent in a perfectly weighed cross, and dos Santos was there to send the ball in the other direction, beating Bingham and ending the scoreless streak at 371 minutes.

In the 75th minute, Brian Rowe made an absolutely clutch save, diving low to his left to expertly palm away a quick shot as LA tried to hold on.

And yet, after Chad Barrett was unlucky once again to hit the crossbar off a header late, he managed to get onto another header, this time sending it low and past Rowe to hand the Earthquakes a share of the points.

All hell broke loose late as Ashley Cole was dismissed for a rash challenge and a large skirmish broke out, but the game ended tied.

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