CARSON, Calif. —The LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes played to a 1-1 draw in an MLS Reserve League game at The Home Depot Center on Tuesday. Both goals were scored from the penalty spot with the Earthquakes striking first in the 31st minute, only for the Galaxy to answer back five minutes later. With the result, the Galaxy and Earthquakes are each 1-1-1 in Reserve League play on the season.
The two sides traded scoring opportunities in the game’s opening half hour, but it was San Jose who got on the scoreboard first. Following a hand ball inside the box by Dan Keat, San Jose’s Turkish forward Sercan Guvenisik converted his spot kick, sending Brian Perk the wrong way, to give his team a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute.
WATCH: Galaxy postgame reaction
The lead would be short lived however as the Galaxy equalized just five minutes later. Chad Barrett was pulled down inside the box and referee Alejandro Mariscal pointed to the spot a second time. Marcelo Sarvas stepped up to take the penalty and saw his attempt saved by Earthquake goalkeeper David Bingham. However, Bingham was adjudged to have left his line early, allowing Sarvas to retake his kick and Bingham to be booked for dissent. After going left on his first attempt, Sarvas went right and placed the ball just past the outstretched hand of Bingham, leveling the score at 1-1.
Minutes after equalizing, the Galaxy appeared to take the lead, with Kyle Nakazawa sneaking a shot past Bingham, only to have the goal called back after Mariscal spotted an infringement.
The Galaxy had most of the majority of the possession in the second half, and created some solid opportunities, but Bingham and the San Jose defense held their ground to keep the score tied. LA’s best chances for a late winner came in the 75th minute when Brad Ring blocked a goal bound strike from Rafael Garcia after Bingham had denied the Galaxy rookie seconds earlier.
While LA could not walk away with three points, they did welcome back a pair of players from injury. Brian Perk played the full 90 minutes in goal, making a series of saves and receiving a second half yellow card while Leonardo made his first Reserve League appearance of the season, playing the opening 45 minute in central defense before being replaced by Andrew Boyens.
After playing their first three games at home, the Galaxy play their first road game in the Reserve League next month against the Portland Timbers. That game is scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 2 with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The Earthquakes next Reserve League game is against Chivas USA on Monday, May 14 at the Earthquakes Training Facility at 11 a.m.
LA Galaxy 1, San Jose Earthquakes 1
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
SJ – Sercan Guvenisik (Penalty Kick) 31’
LA – Marcelo Sarvas (Penalty Kick) 36’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Jean-Marc Alexandre (Yellow Card) 21’
SJ – David Bingham (Yellow Card) 36’
LA – Brian Perk (Yellow Card) 57’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Perk; Hector Jimenez, Leonardo (Andrew Boyens 46’), Dan Keat, Bryan Gaul; Kyle Nakazawa (Jack McBean), Michael Stephens, Kenney Walker, Marcelo Sarvas (Rafael Garcia 51’); Pat Noonan (Jose Villarreall 74’), Chad Barrett.
Subs Not Used: Brian Rowe, Nathan Smith^
^ - Galaxy Academy Players
San Jose Earthquakes: David Bingham; Brad Ring, Ike Opara (Kyle Kaveny 46’), Kareem Smith, Josh Suggs; Sam Garza, Tressor Moreno (Anthony Ampaipitakwong 46’), Jean-Marc Alexandre, Ellis McLoughlin; Sercan Guvenisik, Cesar Dias Pizarro (Cristian Cruz 81’).
Subs Not Used: Christian De Luna, Roberto Mendoza.
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Referee’s Assistants: Luis Gutierrez and Adrian Gonzalez
4th Official: Jesse Yzaguirre
