LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2, SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1
LOS ANGELES GALAXY HEAD COACH STEVE SAMPSON
On the game:
"I thought we played well in the first half, created a number of opportunities once again. We were able to go into the locker room up a goal. Of course, the discussion at halftime was managing the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, so that we don't give up a silly goal like we did against Real."
On playing a man down:
"We managed (the second half) pretty well until we got the red card for Ugo. Obviously, that changed things a bit. I thought our guys did as tactically as well as we possibly could under those conditions."
On Peter Vagenas' goal:
"I thought the goal by Peter Vagenas was redemption from the Salt Lake match. I can't be happier for him. There was one person I wanted to see score tonight, and that was Pete. I thought Naldo gave him just a brilliant ball, and he finished it beautifully."
On the end of the game:
"It was a little hectic there at the end, but then of course San Jose was putting a lot of pressure on us. But I thought the boys handled it well, and we were fortunate to come away with a win."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY MIDFIELDER PETER VAGENAS
On the game:
"We were holding on, and with the red card, we were one man down, but still taking chances and we were able to win. I'm very satisfied. Western Conference games are the most important thing."
On unbeaten home record:
"We want to take care of our home field. It is important to make this the hardest place to play and we've done that. We now have to get great on the road and get some points. We are not there yet, but we're close."
On physicality of the game:
"Over the past few years, the games between these teams have never been a classic soccer game. There always seem to be weird finishes and exciting games. Whether we're up 4-0 and they come back and score five on us. It's obviously great for the League. It shows that when these two teams balance out, it's all about heart."
On his header:
"At that point, we were holding on to dear life. Obviously, it was the worst-case scenario playing at home and being down a man ... we needed to at least get a tie and pick our moments to come forward, and we turned a half chance into a full chance and we'll take it."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY FORWARD NALDO
On the game:
"I'm very happy with the outcome, it was a tremendous battle, but we pulled off a great victory. It was very important for us to win at home especially after losing on the road. We made a good effort and it paid off."
On the pass to Vagenas:
"I created some space behind the defender and then beat him to the ball, Then, I played a long ball to Pete and he drove it in ... a great finish."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On the team's chances after Ugo Ihemelu was red-carded:
"I thought we were back into it, which we were. I thought with a little bit of determination and drive, we were able to get into it. They took advantage of the one chance they got, and they made us pay for it. All-for-all, the effort of the guys tonight, I can't fault them at all."
On the second goal:
"We made a couple of mistakes. Then we fell asleep and were lazy and they punished us for it."
On the energy level after last week's injuries:
"It was good. I told the guys I felt bad for them after the game because they worked so hard to get back into the game."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER MARK CHUNG
On entering the game and setting up a goal:
"Well, we were down 1-0, and Dominic just said 'Get in there and be yourself.'...Luckily Cerritos is a great, great forward. You know, he just got in there, got behind the defense and got himself a goal."
On his assist:
"Well, I got the ball from DeRosario, he played it out right nice. I took Dunivant one-on-one, I had two guys to my left, and I just sent it in toward the goalkeeper and Cerritos was there finishing it. He's an excellent forward."
On joining his new team:
"I feel great. I sold my house in Colorado and I'm ready to move. My family's very excited, we always liked California, we always liked Dominic and John Doyle, and the players as well as coaches. I'm very excited."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD RONALD CERRITOS
Overall thoughts on the game:
"When you lose, it's never good. We played awful the second half. We didn't play to go forward, we didn't try to be dangerous. We waited and waited and waited. We're going to have to play much better, go forward, put some pressure. That's the way we're going to have to play, because we have very talented players. We have to learn. The question is, when? When are we going to learn? A little mistake, like staying with the runners, keep the ball, be a little bit smarter, but we didn't in the end."
On his goal:
"I know [Chung's] moves. I knew he was going to the left, so I was waiting for that cross...I hope we continue to do this."
