LOS ANGELES (Sunday, April 21, 2024) – Playing in their fourth home match of the 2024 campaign, the LA Galaxy earned a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes before a sell-out crowd of 25,335 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday night. Riqui Puig scored the game-winning goal, while Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil both recorded a goal and an assist in the win.
A Century of California Clásicos
Sunday’s match marked the 100th edition across all competitions of the California Clásico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, with LA leading the all-time series 48-33-19 (163 GF, 142 GA). Against San Jose, LA holds a 39-28-17 record in league play, a 4-1-1 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a 5-4-1 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Notably, LA is unbeaten in its last six regular-season matches played against San Jose (5-0-1; 17 GF, 11 GA) dating back to Sept. 24, 2022. In two matches played against San Jose this season, Paintsil has recorded two goals and two assists, Joveljić has tallied one goal and two assists and Puig has notched two goals and one assist.
Killa P’s Finding Form
It marked this first time this season that Puig, Paintsil and Pec each recorded a goal in the same game. In five matches played in the starting lineup together dating back to March 23, Pec has recorded two goals and one assist, Paintsil has notched two goals and three assists and Puig has registered one goal and five assists.
- Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Gabriel Pec (Dejan Joveljić, Riqui Puig), 14th minute: After Maya Yoshida won a header in midfield, Gaston Brugman played the ball upfield to Riqui Puig and his pass found Dejan Joveljić. The Serbian international forward released Gabriel Pec into the penalty area and his shot was drilled in at the bottom corner of the goal.
LA – Joseph Paintsil (Penalty Kick), 24th minute: After Niko Tsakiris was whistled for a handball inside the box, Joseph Paintsil calmly placed his penalty kick attempt into the bottom right corner.
LA – Maya Yoshida (Joseph Paintsil), 30th minute: Joseph Paintsil’s in-swinging corner kick into the box was headed in by Maya Yoshida at the back post.
SJ – Rodrigues, 32nd minute: A deflected ball from a free-kick delivery into the penalty area was headed at the back post by Rodrigues.
LA – Riqui Puig (Gabriel Pec, Dejan Joveljić), 56th minute: In transition, Gabriel Pec found Riqui Puig inside the penalty area. Puig back-heeled the ball to create space between his defender before placing his low shot past the San Jose goalkeeper at the near post.
SJ – Benji Kikanovic (Cristian Espinoza, Carlos Akapo), 58th minute: Cristian Espinoza’s cross from the right wing was headed into the back of the net from close range by Benji Kikanovic.
SJ – Jeremy Ebobisse (Penalty Kick), 72nd minute: Jeremy Ebobisse converted his penalty kick attempt into the bottom left corner.
Postgame Notes
- Through nine matches played during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the LA Galaxy hold a 5-1-3 record (21 GF,15 GA; 18 points), lead the Western Conference and sit in second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings behind only Inter Miami CF (5-2-3; 22 GF, 15 GA; 18 points).
- Sunday’s match marked the 100th edition across all competitions of the California Clásico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, with LA leading the all-time series 48-33-19 (163 GF, 142 GA).
- Against San Jose, LA holds a 39-28-17 record in league play, a 4-1-1 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a 5-4-1 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
- In 47 all-time matches played at home across all competitions against the Earthquakes, the Galaxy hold a record of 29-12-6 (86 GF, 61 GA).
- LA is unbeaten in its last six regular-season matches played against San Jose (5-0-1; 17 GF, 11 GA) dating back to Sept. 24, 2022.
- The Galaxy’s 39 all-time regular-season wins over San Jose ranks as the most in the club’s history against a single opponent overall in MLS.
- Notably, Dejan Joveljić has seven goal contributions (5 goals, 2 assist) in eight career regular-season matches played (5 starts) against San Jose.
- The Galaxy are the only team in MLS this season to score in each of their first nine matches of the 2024 campaign.
- LA ranks tied for first in the league with Inter Miami CF with 13 goals scored in the second half of matches during the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
- In four matches played at home during the 2024 campaign, the LA Galaxy hold an unbeaten record of 2-0-2 (9 GF, 7 GA).
- Joseph Paintsil finished the match with one goal, one assist and four fouls won.
- Riqui Puig recorded one goal and one assist, won four of seven duels and completed 76 of 91 passes (83.5%) in the win over San Jose.
- Julián Aude won nine of 13 duels and two possessions, was fouled a game-high seven times and notched two interceptions.
- In the win over San Jose, Gastón Brugman won two tackles, five of nine duels and a game-high 11 possessions, recorded a game-high four interceptions and completed 68 of 72 passes (94.4%).
Next Game
Next up, the LA Galaxy travel to face Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on Saturday, April 27 (10:45 a.m. PT, Free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes).
2024 MLS Regular Season
LA Galaxy (5-1-3, 18pts) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (1-8-0, 3pts)
Sunday, April 21, 2024 – Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 3 1 4
San Jose Earthquakes 1 2 3
Scoring Summary:
LA: Pec, 14
LA: Paintsil (penalty kick), 24
LA: Yoshida (Paintsil), 30
SJ: Rodrigues, 32
LA: Puig (Pec, Joveljić), 56
SJ: Kikanovic (Espinoza, Akapo), 58
SJ: Ebobisse (penalty kick), 72
Misconduct Summary:
LA: Paintsil (caution), 7
SJ: Espinoza (caution), 45
SJ: Gruezo (caution), 54
SJ: Costa (caution), 65
LA: Zavaleta (ejection), 70
LA: Puig (caution), 74
SJ: Skahan (caution, 76
LA: Vanney (caution), 90+1
Lineups:
LA: GK John McCarthy; D Edwin Cerrillo (Mauricio Cuevas, 65), D Maya Yoshida ©, D Martín Cáceres (Eriq Zavaleta, 61), D Julián Aude; M Mark Delgado, M Gastón Brugman, M Riqui Puig, F Gabriel Pec (Daniel Aguirre, 85), F Joseph Paintsil (Diego Fagundez, 65), F Dejan Joveljić (Miguel Berry, 85)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Novak Mićović; D John Nelson; M Jonathan Pérez, M Gino Vivi
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Cristian Espinoza, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Benjamin Kikanovic, Rodrigues, 2); FOULS: 11 (Carlos Gruezo, 5); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
SJ: GK William Yarbrough; D Vitor Costa (Ousseni Bouda, 87), D Rodrigues, D Tanner Beason, D Carlos Akapo; M Niko Tsakiris (Jack Skahan, 57), M Carlos Gruezo (Alfredo Morales, 77), M Jackson Yueill ©, M Amahl Pellegrino (Benjamin Kikanovic, 57), M Cristian Espinoza; F Preston Judd (Jeremy Ebobisse, 46)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emmanuel Ochoa; D Paul Marie, D Jamar Ricketts, M Daniel Munie
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Gabriel Pec, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Gabriel Pec, Riqui Puig, 2); FOULS: 21 (Gastón Brugman, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4
Referee: Rosendo Martinez
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Kevin Lock
Fourth Official: Abdou Ndiaye
VAR: Chris Penso
Weather: Clear, 66 degrees
Attendance: 25,335
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
