The latest edition of the California Clásico was just as tense and breathless as fans have come to expect. But there would be no winner at StubHub Center on Sunday evening, as just two goals were produced from wave after wave of attacks in both directions.
After 83 minutes of end-to-end play in front of a packed house in Carson, a late Marvell Wynne own goal looked to have garnered all three points for the LA Galaxy.
The San Jose Earthquakes managed to conjure up a flashback of that old "Goonie Time" magic just four minutes later, however, as Fatai Alashe stole in to head home a stunning equalizer after some hard work by former Galaxy man Chad Barrett.
The late drama left the home side visibly frustrated. But thanks to their 3-1 win on March 19, LA remain in the driver's seat in the season series ahead of their third and final meeting of 2016, set for San Jose's second home, Stanford Stadium, on June 25.
Box Score
- 83' - LA - Marvell Wynne (OG)
- 87' - SJ - Fatai Alashe (Chad Barrett)
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Three Things
1. WOODWORKING HARD: It's not often that a 1-1 draw unfolds in the sort of open, relentless fashion seen in this one. Both sides showed little caution as they hunted the game's first goal, and both were denied by the post and crossbar, most prominently when Chris Wondolowski and Giovani dos Santos went agonizingly close. The Cali rivals combined for 21 shots, six of them on target. On a different day, it could've ended 3-3.
2. CHAD'S REVENGE: With six MLS clubs on his resume, you might think Barrett is used to playing against his former teams. But this one was surely special to the veteran striker, who left the Galaxy in 2012 after they declined his contract option. Barrett came off the bench and showed admirable doggedness to keep the play alive just before crossing to Alashe for the equalizer.
3. SOCAL STAND UP: This game looked and felt every bit the cross-Cali showdown that it has been for two decades, with a packed house setting aside their LA cool for nearly two hours of cheering, chanting and some carefully-coordinated tifo work (NO ME ARREPIENTO DE ESTE AMOR means "I do not regret this love," the title of an old song by Argentine songstress Gilda):
