Strikeout: LA Galaxy 0, San Jose Earthquakes 4

The LA Galaxy’s losing streak went to six games Wednesday, as they fell 4-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Despite getting a game off at the weekend and a few extra days to prepare for this game, once again the Galaxy were lost at sea at both ends of the field, and unable to keep pace with the energetic Earthquakes, who have now taken a 2-1-1 edge in California Clasicos this season.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto made a couple significant changes to his XI, with Yony Gonzalez getting his first start for the Galaxy in attack, and Jonathan Klinsmann getting his first game for LA, replacing David Bingham in goal.

Klinsmann was tested in the 12th minute by Tommy Thompson, who hit a bullet from the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge and easily made the save.

San Jose controlled the game in the first half, but LA worked to get some looks as the first 45 wore on. But those efforts were for naught, as the Quakes took the lead in the 44th minute through Nick Lima, who slammed home a one-timer off Andy Rios’ cutback pass in the box.

Rios then doubled the lead for the Earthquakes in the 52nd minute, with his jumping tap-in off Carlos Fierro’s cross.

Schelotto pulled Chicharito from the game a couple minutes later, with Efrain Alvarez entering in his place, a move that was rather surprising.

The Earthquakes poured it on in the 76th minute, as Thompson forced a save way off his line by Klinsmann, before latching onto the rebound and getting an angle to score on the second try, in impressive fashion, making it 3-0 to the visitors.

Adding insult to injury, Lima scored his second goal of the night deep in second-half stoppage time to make it 4-0 and cap off an awful night for the home side.

It was another terrible performance, what else can be said? Players were working hard but there’s no rhythm, no understanding, an inability to execute. They really seem like they are in a tailspin that may not be able to get out of under Schelotto.

LA are scheduled to be back on the field Sunday, when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Whitecaps are fresh off a win over LAFC Wednesday and have won two straight games, and have been a streaky team this season. The Galaxy can’t buy a win, but they need to keep trying and see if they can turn it around, because time is running out on the 2020 season.

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