LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes draw 3-3 in wild California Clasico

Once again the California Clasico did not disappoint, as the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earrthquakes battled to an entertaining 3-3 draw Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.

LA Galaxy

Zlatan wasted no time introducing himself to the San Jose faithful. 58 seconds into the match, the mercurial Swede smashed a volley from a difficult angle into the top left corner of the net, sending the heavy contigent of Galaxy away fans into rapture.

The lead didn’t last long as Magnus Erikson was tripped up in the box by Bradford Jamieson IV and Chris Wondolowski stepped up to the spot. David Bingham did well to make the initial stop but Wondo tapped in the rebound in an empty net before taunting the keeper in a rather pathetic fashion.

Five minutes later Romain Alessandrini put LA back ahead in empathic style, curving a free kick from outside the 18-yard box to keeper Andrew Tarbell’s near post, much to the surprise of the Earthquakes keeper.

If that weren’t enough, Ibrahimovic bagged his brace soon afterwards off another free kick, powering a low cannon from 25-yards out that nestled into the right corner of the net.

Valeri Qazaishvili made it 3-2 off a moment of poor defending, probing outside the area before placing a finish past Bingham that was all too easy. Michael Ciani saved a goal right before halftime, tracking Florian Jungwirth after he managed to round Bingham in the box and blocking his shot from point-blank range.

However the French center back would be culpable for gifting San Jose another penalty after hauling down Danny Hoesen in the area, and Wondo powered past Bingham to make it 3-3.

Wondo would smash a laser off Bingham’s left post late, but LA held on to capture the road point.