LA Galaxy smash San Jose Earthquakes in California Clasico 4-2

The Galaxy and Earthquakes traded five goals in the first half before LA pulled out a 4-2 victory in another wild California Clasico at Avaya Stadium Saturday night.

San Jose opened the scoring when the Galaxy failed to adequately clear the ball and Danny Hoesen floated a cross over a flat-footed Ashley Cole to Chris Wondolowski, who made no mistake from close range.

The Galaxy would equalize in the 19th minute when Joáo Pedro tip-toed the Quakes back line and accepted a cheeky pass from Cole before confidently striking past David Bingham.

LA would take the lead when the impressive Bradley Diallo drew a penalty on Kofi Sarkodie and Giovani dos Santos beat Bingham up the middle. But the Quakes weren’t about to quit, and just minutes later Hoesen snuck past Jelle Van Damme to re-direct a low cross past Brian Rowe.

Things were looking up for San Jose, then the Quakes suffered a backbreaker right before the half when a dangerous Diallo cross ricocheted off the head of defender Victor Bernandez and snuck inside Bingham’s net.

The second half was back and forth until the moment of the match in the 64th minute: Romain Alessandrini accepted the ball on the left flank and swung an inch-perfect cross right to the head of dos Santos, who nodded from point-blank range past a beleaguered Bingham.

LA head to the nation’s capital next week to battle D.C. United, looking to extend what is now a three game winning streak on the road.