Clasicoooooooooo: LA Galaxy 3, San Jose Earthquakes 2

The LA Galaxy won their second game in a row and second rivalry game on the trot, this time dispatching of the San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.

The Galaxy didn’t lead the game until the final 10 minutes of regulation, after being down themselves twice in the match, but Sebastian Lletget and Cristian Pavon led the way for LA to get another good rivalry win in this latest phase of the 2020 MLS season.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto went with the XI that ushered them to their first win of the season last week against LAFC.

It wasn’t a stellar start for the home side, as San Jose drew first blood in the 11th minute, with Vako scoring off a throw-in play.

But LA answered back in the 33rd minute, with another set-piece goal, this time Daniel Steres with a quasi-header off Lletget’s free kick service.

The teams went into the locker room tied 1-1 at the break.

The Galaxy had a good look in the 58th minute, as Ethan Zubak fought on a ball at the top of San Jose’s box, and in the scramble Earthquakes goalkeeper Daniel Vega took himself out of the play momentarily. But LA couldn’t capitalize, and Vega recovered to catch the ball.

It got worse, as a minute later, San Jose took the lead again, with Cade Cowell, making his first career MLS start, dribbled along the top of the Galaxy box and unleashed a strike from distance to beat David Bingham to make it 2-1.

The Galaxy got a penalty call in their favor in the 70th minute through Beason. Pavon stepped up and scored the spot kick to tie it up once again.

The Galaxy took the lead 10 minutes later, as a corner kick lead to a bang-bang play with the ball ending up in the back of the net. Lletget was credited with the goal, but it may have gone off a Quakes defender on the way in. Regardless, it was LA’s first lead of the night.

All things considered, the Galaxy were probably a bit fortunate to win the game. I think it was pretty evenly match overall, but LA kept fighting when they went down, twice, and they got a late lead and held onto it. They got the job done, and that is very impressive for their season ahead.

LA are scheduled to be back in action Wednesday on the road against the Portland Timbers. These teams, of course, met already this season, in their opening game of the MLS is Back Tournament, which the Timbers went on to win. Will there be a different outcome this time? We’ll see in a few days.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.