A combined two late goals on Sunday from the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes saw the second California Clasico of the season end in a 1-1 draw at the StubHub Center.
A defensive struggle
This Clasico will not be known for the spectacular goals or the creative dribbling moves. Instead, the 62nd Clasico will be remembered for hard tackles and missed chances. A combined 21 shots were produced between the two clubs. However, the accuracy for both clubs was off as only a total of six shots was on target between the Quakes and LA.
The main reason for that was the determination of San Jose's midfield not allowing the Galaxy to have an inch of free space to operate. A majority of the match was spent in the middle of the field battling for possession. Between the two clubs, a total of 20 tackles were completed and 19 fouls were called in the match.
Poor first half for LA
The game plan of the Quakes was paying off as the fluid attack of LA was stuck. By the 35th minute, the Galaxy's offense had only produced three chances and none of them were on target. The visitors in the other hand had placed two of their five shots on target. If it was not for LA's goalkeeper Brian Rowe coming up with two saves against Fatai Alashe and Chris Wondolowski early in the match the outcome of the game would have been different.
In fact, the crossbar also bailed out the home side in the first half. Galaxy's defender Daniel Steres was fortunate that Wondolowski close range shot smacked off the crossbar in the 37th minute. Steres committed an error in the box and Wondolowski quickly jumped on the loose ball.
Rowe rushed out of the net to challenge the shot but the U.S. international forward blasted the ball past Rowe's hands. His shot seemed destined to rip the back of the net but it didn't and the score remained scoreless.
As the Quakes were knocking on the door and getting closer to breaking the scoreless draw, the Galaxy was attempting to just complete passes. The home side did not register their first shot on target till the 45th minute. The shot came from Giovani dos Santos at the center of the penalty box. Dos Santos received a pass from captain Robbie Kean.
The Mexican playmaker was surrounded by Quakes' defenders in the box. He was still able to bring the ball down with his chest and set himself up for a shot. However, he did not get a clean touch as the ball bounced harmlessly into the hands of San Jose's goalkeeper David Bingham.
It was no shock that the first half ended in a scoreless draw since the two clubs only combined for three shots on target.
Second half starts the same
At the start of the second half, the Galaxy's mindset or poor accuracy in the final third continued. Dos Santos, Keane, Mike Magee and Gyasi Zardes made smart runs near the box. However, when it came time to send a pass, take a shot or make a run into the box a moment of hesitation came over them and the opportunity would be gone.
It took a while for the Galaxy to get going in the second half. In fact, it was not until the 72nd minute that the home side registered their first shot of the half. Dos Santos launched a thunderous volley from the top of the box. His shot zoomed past Bingham and then dinged off the crossbar.
That miss was just the start of LA's wasted opportunities trend. A few minutes later Keane recorded the Galaxy's second shot on target in the 77th minute. The Irish international wasted a one on one chance with the keeper. He fired a shot inside the box, but the ball went directly into the direction of Bingham.
A wild ending to the California Clasico
Both sides struggled to produce consistent goal scoring chances. However, in the final 10 minutes, San Jose and LA combined for three shots and two goals. The first opportunity was an off-target shot from LA's Robbie Rogers at the 80th minute. A few minutes later the breakthrough for LA arrived.
In the 83rd minute, LA received a gift from the Quakes to take the late 1-0 lead. Galaxy's substitute Sebastian Lletget centered the ball into the heart of the box with Zardes in his sights. However, San Jose's defender Marvell Wynne slid to deflect the pass, but instead the ball rolled into the back of the net.
The 27,167 fans erupted, and now the Galaxy was just minutes away from picking up three points. However, the Earthquakes did not stumble after conceding the late goal. They continued to push the ball forward and search for the tying goal.
Finally, in the 87th minute, San Jose completed the comeback with a header from Alashe. The former Galaxy player Chad Barrett whipped in a cross from the left-hand side, near the corner flag. The ball landed right into the path of Alashe, and the 22-year-old midfielder simply redirected the ball to the right-hand corner of the net to secure the 1-1 draw.
Where they stand
Due to this result, both clubs drop one place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy dropped to fifth and they now have 20 points. As for the Quakes they are now in sixth place with 19 points in 12 games.
Who they face next
The Galaxy will be traveling to Canada to take on the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday. The Quakes will be back in Northern California hosting FC Dallas on Saturday at the Avaya Stadium.