SAN JOSE, Calif. (Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023) – Down 2-1 at halftime, the LA Galaxy battled back to earn a 3-2 win on the road over the San Jose Earthquakes in the 98th edition of the Cali Clásico at PayPal Park on Wednesday night. Riqui Puig and Tyler Boyd both scored goals, while Dejan Joveljić recorded the game-winning goal in the victory against San Jose.
Galaxy Run Of Form
With the win over San Jose, the Galaxy improved to 5-1-4 (21 GF, 15 GA) in their last 10 regular season matches played dating back to May 31. Notably, the Galaxy rank first in the Western Conference in points per game (1.9) dating back to May 31, and rank fourth overall in the league behind only the Columbus Crew (2.0), FC Cincinnati (2.0) and Orlando City SC (2.0) during that span. In his last 10 matches played across all competitions dating back to June 21, Riqui Puig has recorded five goals and five assists, while Tyler Boyd has notched four goals and one assist in his last five regular-season matches played dating back to July 4.
LA Galaxy Against San Jose Earthquakes
Wednesday’s match marked the 98th edition across all competitions of the Cali Clásico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, with LA leading the all-time series 46-33-19. Against San Jose, LA holds a 37-28-17 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 43 all-time regular-season matches played on the road against the Earthquakes, the Galaxy hold a 14-18-11 record. LA is unbeaten in its last four matches played on the road (3-0-1, 11 GF, 7 GA) against San Jose dating back to June 26, 2021. In three meetings between the two teams during the 2023 campaign, the LA Galaxy held an unbeaten record of 2-0-1.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Tyer Boyd (Raheem Edwards), 16th minute: *Raheem Edwards’ long pass released Tyler Boyd down the left flank. Boyd evaded a tackle from Jonathan Mensah down the left side of the penalty area, before curling his right-footed shot into the far corner of the goal.
SJ – Own Goal (Calegari), 29th minute: *Cristian Espinoza’s shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box was deflected off the head of Calegari and beat Jonathan Bond at the near post.
SJ– Jeremy Ebobisse (Jamiro Monteiro, Cristian Espinoza), 31st minute: *Jamiro Monteiro’s low cross into the six-yard box was finished by Jeremy Ebobisse.
LA – Riqui Puig (Edwin Cerrillo), 50th minute: *Edwin Cerrillo laid the ball off to Riqui Puig just outside the halfway line. Puig carried the ball towards the top of the area before curling his shot in off the far post.
LA – Dejan Joveljić (Penalty Kick), 61st minute: *After Raheem Edwards was fouled inside the penalty area, Dejan Joveljić stepped up to the spot and buried his shot right down the middle of the goal.
Postgame Notes
- With the win over San Jose, the Galaxy improved to 5-1-4 (21 GF, 15 GA) in their last 10 regular season matches played dating back to May 31.
- Notably, the Galaxy rank first in the Western Conference in points per game (1.9) dating back to May 31, and rank fourth overall in the league behind only the Columbus Crew (2.0), FC Cincinnati (2.0) and Orlando City SC (2.0) during that span.
- In eight road matches played across all competitions dating back to May 23, LA holds a 3-2-3 (15 GF, 14 GA) record.
- Wednesday’s match marked the 98th edition across all competitions of the Cali Clásico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, with LA leading the all-time series 46-33-19.
- Against San Jose, LA holds a 37-28-17 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.
- LA is unbeaten in its last four matches played on the road (3-0-1, 11 GF, 7 GA) against San Jose dating back to June 26, 2021.
- In three meetings between San Jose and LA during the 2023 campaign, the Galaxy held an unbeaten record of 2-0-1.
- In his last 10 matches played across all competitions dating back to June 21, Riqui Puig has recorded five goals and five assists.
- Puig has tallied a goal in three consecutive matches played across all competitions dating back to July 30.
- Additionally, Puig has recorded a goal or an assist (4 goals, 4 assists) in six consecutive league appearances dating back to July 1, and ranks third in MLS in goal contributions behind only Luciano Acosta (4 goals, 7 assists) and Ryan Gauld (5 goals, 4 assists) during that span.
- Tyler Boyd has notched four goals and one assist in his last five regular-season matches played dating back to July 4.
- Dejan Joveljić, who scored his first goal in 16 games played dating back to May 14, recorded his second game-winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes this season.
- In six career regular-season matches played against San Jose, Joveljić has recorded four goals.
- Edwin Cerrillo recorded his first assist with the Galaxy and completed 63 of 67 passes (94 %) and won four possessions in the win over the Earthquakes.
- Raheem Edwards recorded his second assist of the 2023 campaign with the victory against San Jose.
- Calegari won a game-high nine possessions and recorded five clearances in his 26th consecutive start across all competitions for LA.
- Diego Fagundez made his LA Galaxy debut, logging 55 minutes off the bench.
- Jonathan Bond, who made four saves in the win against the Earthquakes, tied Donovan Rickets for the third-most regular-season appearances (81) by an LA Galaxy goalkeeper in team history.
Next Game
Next up, the LA Galaxy play host to Houston Dynamo FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Sept. 2. The match on Sept. 2 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.**
2023 MLS Regular Season
LA Galaxy (7-10-7, 28pts) at San Jose Earthquakes (9-9-8, 35 pts)**
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 – PayPal Park (San Jose, Calif.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 1 2 3
San Jose Earthquakes 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
LA: Boyd (Edwards), 16
SJ: Own Goal (Calegari), 29
SJ: Ebobisse (Monteiro, Espinoza), 31
LA: Puig (Cerrillo), 50
LA: Joveljić (penalty kick), 61
Misconduct Summary:
SJ: Rodrigues (caution), 19
SJ: Akapo (caution), 43
SJ: Trauco (caution), 65
SJ: Gruezo (caution), 75
LA: Cerrillo (caution), 83
SJ: Marie (caution), 90+2
LA: Aude (caution), 90+9
Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond, D Calegari, D Eriq Zavaleta, D Maya Yoshida, D Raheem Edwards (Julián Aude, 72); M Edwin Cerrillo, M Uri Rosell (Mark Delgado, 45), M Tyler Boyd, M Riqui Puig (Daniel Aguirre, 79) ©, M Douglas Costa (Diego Fagundez, 35); F Dejan Joveljić (Billy Sharp, 72)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Novak Mićović; D Kelvin Leerdam, D Chris Mavinga; F Michael Barrios
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Riqui Puig, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Riqui Puig, 2); FOULS: 8 (Dejan Joveljić, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4
SJ: GK Daniel; D Miguel Trauco (Paul Marie, 81), D Rodrigues, D Jonathan Mensah, D Carlos Akapo (Tommy Thompson, 84); M Carlos Gruezo (Ayo Akinola, 81), M Jackson Yueill ©, M Cade Cowell (Matthew Hoppe, 71), M Jamiro Monteiro (Niko Tsakiris, 81), M Cristian Espinoza; F Jeremy Ebobisse
Substitutes Not Used: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Tanner Beason, D Benjamin Kikanovic, M Michael Baldisimo
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Cade Cowell, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Jeremy Ebobisse, 2); FOULS: 13 (Carlos Akapo, 83); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 11; SAVES: 2
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Weather: Clear, 79 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH AND SPORTING DIRECTOR GREG VANNEYOn his general thoughts on the game and the seven minutes of stoppage time:
“I thought we started excellent. And for the first 20 minutes or so, I thought we were playing as well as we played all season. I thought the ball was moving fast. We were in good spots. I don’t think they had any great solutions for us. We get the goal. I think things are almost going, in a way, too easy. We start getting, in my opinion, a little bit arrogant. And as I said to the guys at halftime, we get a little bit cocky because we’re able to really play. They couldn’t get anything going, and I could feel their energy sapping out of them. And then we start forcing things. We start turning over. We start jamming it to the right side. We start losing balls in between our lines, and we start giving them momentum and they get a goal. And then, we compound it with a goal immediately off of it. So, the next thing, in a game where the opposition has had the ball for probably about a minute total, they’re up 2-1, so it’s just a different energy on the field. We get to halftime, just a couple adjustments by bringing Marky [Delgado] on and shifting some things around. We get ourselves back on top of the game, and the last seven minutes are just… you’re just dealing with things that are being whipped in front of the goal, and we made the decision just to try to overload and protect the face of the goal. Because, you know guys like [Cristian] Espinoza, he can get a cross out of nothing, and he just whips things in that are really dirty. You want to try to get density and get guys in front of the goal who can help protect the goal. We stayed resilient and managed out the game, and it’s a huge win. Lucas’ [Calegari] run at the end just to buy us a little bit of time was massive. Diego [Fagundez] had a little bit of a run at the end. It was massive. It just took a little bit of time off of the defending effort, and gave those guys a bit of a chance to catch their breath and see things out. So, those couple little plays were just huge for us down the stretch.”
On what this win says, the momentum gained and an injury status update on Douglas Costa:
“It’s a huge win for us. Again, I thought the game had its ebbs and flows for sure, but I thought we played fantastic early. We went through a tough stretch. We had to come back from it on the road, and we did. And then we grinded and saw some things through there on the end. We’ve been on a great stretch. You take away the tournament, which is the tournament. We’ve been on a really good stretch as a group. We continue to show the fight that we’re going to need down the stretch, and we also show some really good soccer inside of it, because that is important as well. That’s what our team is built on. We showed a little bit of the toughness and the grittiness at the end to win this one out. Again, it’s tough because we’re going to turn around in a couple days and you’ve got to lace them up and do it again. That’s this time of year. And, the one on stadium is every bit as important, more important than the one tonight. So, we’ll take the energy from this one and turn it around Saturday.
As far as the injuries, Douglas [Costa] was a dislocated shoulder. He got it back in place and we’ll see how he’s doing as they reassess over the next couple days and see how that goes. I’m not just quite sure what the next steps are there. Riqui [Puig] is okay. He was feeling something in his quad. I don’t think it was specifically muscular pull or tear or anything along those lines. I think it was something else. Not exactly sure. But, he’s okay. He’ll turn it around.”
On Tyler Boyd having four goals and one assist in the last five MLS Regular Season games, and what he sees in Tyler and his form at the moment:
“I think Tyler [Boyd] is one of our guys who is a consistent runner. He is looking to run through the lines. He’s looking to out himself in dangerous positions because he’s active. He’s always looking for the ball at this feet, he’ll look at it on the run. We have so many good passers in addition to good soccer players, that Ty running gives himself the opportunity, and gives those guys a target that they can play to. In addition to that, he can do the one-on-one stuff. He can take somebody on. He can take his own shot. He can cut inside. He can get to the endline. He can do some different things. But, he’s active. I keep saying to our guys, if you’re active for our ball carriers, then you’re going to get chances, you’re going to get opportunities to score, because we have guys who can really set up things. We just want more guys to get themselves in positions to finish things, and we’ll see more things go into the back of the net. We’ve been on a good run of form in terms of scoring, and we need to keep that momentum up.”
On Dejan Joveljić’s performance tonight, and getting on the score sheet in some time: |
“That was the most important thing of the day for Dejan [Joveljić]. He got on the scoreboard, and I know he’s been super stressed out by not providing goals and it doesn’t matter how it comes for guys who are supposed to score goals. Just hitting the net one time and that emotion is important. I thought that was the best moment of the day for him. He gave us some activity from time to time. I thought he had a hard time when we were playing into him as a target and trying to link things up and get things in. It was tough for him today. But I think as he adjusted and started to make some more vertical runs, then I think things started to open up. His run creates some space for Riqui [Puig], who comes inside and finishes that one because he went vertical and through the lines, which backed up the back line and opened up the space for Riqui to drive and get a shot off. So, instead of sometimes where he wants to show and get a shot in between the lines, I want him to continue to look for that run in between the center backs, or the depth and stretch. Because when Riqui gets turned, he’s so hard to keep up with. And you can open up some space and be the recipient of some passes from Riqui as well. Anyway, getting the goal was just huge for him. I know emotionally, because he’s been grinding for a goal for a while.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER RAHEEM EDWARDS
On how it feels to be up, then down, and fight back for the win:
“Rollercoasters of emotions for sure. First 20 minutes I thought that was probably the best football I think I played with the LA Galaxy since I’ve been here. Honestly. To go up 1-nil in the beginning, that’s something that you want. To concede two goals that quick… I think it was kind of naive of us. We were overzealous a little bit. Not arrogant, but a little cocky in a sense of the way we were playing. Basically let two goals in by shooting ourselves in the foot. But. I think, again, the comeback int eh second half, that’s what makes champions. That’s what pushes teams over the edge to make playoffs, and stuff like that. So, I’m proud of the boys, obviously, but I’m still kind of pissed off about coming into halftime down 2-1 after playing so well.”
On if the depth helps bring maturity to the squad, noticeably when the likes of Billy Sharp and Maya Yoshida subbed on:
“Yes. The depth is, not to harp on anything or try to shoot anyone down, but I think our depth… yeah. It’s improv incredibly. With guys like Billy Sharp and Maya [Yoshida], they bring a calmness and a veteran leadership to our team. Whether that’s at the front with Billy, or the back with Maya. Excellent today making tackles. He does everything a center back needs to do, and his leadership is really, really well. And even Diego [Fagundez], you see him come in and make a difference. So, we can bring in guys now and hurt another team in bigger ways, which is good.”
On this momentum being a confidence boost, and Houston on the weekend and if the mindset is confident:
“Yeah, of course we feel confident. Ike I said before, this is kind of reminiscent of last year. We needed points towards the end of the season, we needed points. We treat these games, or these last 12 games that we have, we treat every game like a final. Houston is on fire right now, but coming to our stadium, we want to impose our will and continue to play the way we’re playing, and get as many points as we can. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but it’s a challenge we’re up for.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER EDWIN CERRILLO
On how he is contributing to the lineup since joining the squad:
“I think my mentality since I got here, I wanted to contribute in any way possible. Whatever the team needs, whatever Greg [Vanney] wants from me. And, I think I’m doing my role. I have good players around me, so it makes it that much easier. We have two games played, and I feel good. I feel great. I feel comfortable. We just have to keep it going.”
On Greg Vanney speaking about the intelligence he possesses in his game, and how he navigates on the field surrounded by the likes of Douglas Costa and Riqui Puig:
“Yeah. Also, to your point of me kind of staying out of the way, they’re technically gifted and they can take players on. I just have to be there just in case they don’t get around them, and try to kill any attack from the other team. And kind of just give that stability and let those players to their thing.”
On the mentality of coming behind and winning, and continuing that mindset through the playoff push:
“I think since I got here, everyone has a mentality that we had 12 finals. And now we have 10 more. I think we have games in hand from the other teams. We’re clicking, just like Raheem [Edwards] just said, and we’re playing comfortable. At times, like today, we get punished, just trying to play pointless passes. But, I think the team is clicking and we’re going to keep going.”
