SANTA CLARA, Calif. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points to the Galaxy’s 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. Omar Gonzalez scored as the Galaxy extended their unbeaten streak to seven games.
GALAXY TURN UP THE HEAT EARLY BUT PK MISS HURTS…
Heading into their sweltering clash with the San Jose Earthquakes, Bruce Arena had one objective: turn up the pressure on the home side early and often.
The Galaxy were buzzing from the start as they pressured the Earthquakes across the field and peppered San Jose ‘keeper Jon Busch’s net. The Galaxy finally broke through in the 28th minute when Omar Gonzalez nodded a Stefan Ishizaki corner past Busch for LA’s only goal. The strike is the latest bright moment for Gonzalez who has scored four goals and added an assist since returning from World Cup duty.
The Galaxy were riding the momentum created by the goal until the 36th minute when Robbie Keane launched a penalty kick attempt into the right side of the crossbar to give life to the Earthquakes.
TEMPERS FLARE LATE AS SAN JOSE PULLS LEVEL
Fueled by the life preserver offered by Robbie Keane’s penalty kick miss, the San Jose Earthquakes clawed their way back into the match as the California Clasico descended into an overly physical contest.
From the opening whistle in the second half, San Jose sought to make life difficult the Galaxy and use their hard tackling style to infuriate the visitors. San Jose’s physical pressure led to minimal opportunities for the home side, but the Earthquakes needed just one as Chris Wondolowski scored in the 65th minute to pull San Jose level.
After their tying goal, tempers flared in the Santa Clara heat as the match descended into farce. Referee Sorin Stoica issued seven of his nine yellow cards in the second half as San Jose stole a point from the Galaxy.
A.J. DELAGARZA MAKES HIS RETURN
Amid all his personal difficulties, A.J. DeLaGarza made his return to action on Sunday, starting in the Galaxy’s 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Getting the nod at right back for the suspended Dan Gargan, DeLaGarza was solid in his first match since the death of his newborn son Luca a week earlier. Matched up against the likes of Atiba Harris and Cordell Cato, DeLaGarza appeared incredibly sharp as he repeatedly snuffed out chances while also providing width going forward.
With the Galaxy dealing with numerous injuries at the outside back position, the return of DeLaGarza is a major boost for the Galaxy.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
