It's the second meeting in four days in the same locale for the original California Clasíco, and the pump was truly primed at midweek when the Los Angeles Galaxy again got the better of their in-state rivals with a victory in the U.S. Open Cup - the fourth time in four tries they've knocked out the San Jose Earthquakes. Now it's to the league wars where the 'Quakes are unbeaten at home this season, while the Galaxy won away from southern California last weekend for the first time in nearly 14 months, as the teams come in 1-2 in the West separated by six points.
REFEREE: Abbey Okulaja. SAR (bench): Richard Eddy; JAR (opposite): Anthony Vasoli; 4th: Brian Hall
MLS Career: 35 games; FC/gm: 31.1; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 3; pens: 12
Games involving Earthquakes: P7 W3 L1 T3; FC/gm: 30.6; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 0; pens: 0
Games involving Galaxy: P9 W3 L4 T2; FC/gm: 31.1; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 0; pens: 4
INJURY REPORT: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - OUT: MF Brad Davis (L groin strain); FW Brian Ching (R hamstring strain); DF Craig Waibel (R knee torn ACL/LCL); DF Troy Dayak (L knee torn ACL); PROBABLE: DF Ryan Cochrane (R ankle sprain) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - QUESTIONABLE: DF Ben Benditson (sports hernia); PROBABLE: MF Cobi Jones (R ankle sprain), DF Chris Albright (R groin strain)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: SJ: Brad Davis (18 CP) ... LA: Chris Albright (19 CP)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (36 meetings): Earthquakes 10 wins (1 shootout), 46 goals ... Galaxy 21 wins (4 shootout), 56 goals ... 5 draws
AT SPARTAN STADIUM: (18 meetings): Earthquakes 7 wins (0 shootout), 24 goals ... Galaxy 8 wins (2 shootout), 22 goals ... 3 draws
The long-time bitter Golden State rivals meet in the third of four "California Clasicos" this season, the second of two meetings at Spartan Stadium. They next meet in the season finale on Victoria Street on Oct. 15.THIS YEAR
The teams have split their two league meetings this season, Los Angeles winning 2-1 at home on May 21, then the Earthquakes claiming a 3-0 victory in San Jose on June 25 as Landon Donovan received a torrid reception in his return to Silicon Valley. Then on Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup, the Galaxy once again got the better of their northern rivals, dumping the Quakes for the fourth time ever with a 2-1 victory in San Jose.
On May 21 at The Home Depot Center, the injury-hit Earthquakes nearly survived their first match without a host of starters, but couldn't take advantage of being a man up and lost 2-1 to the Galaxy.
The California Clasico got off to a quiet start until Jovan Kirovski hit home with a long-range shot that took a deflection or two on its way to goal (39).
But just after the hour, rookie Galaxy center back Ugo Ihemelu was sent off for a second yellow card, and it took the Earthquakes just six minutes to equalize, new acquisition Mark Chung curling in a perfectly-placed cross from the right where Ronald Cerritos came in at the near post to jab home.
Yet the Galaxy came back to claim the full three points, substitute Naldo da Conceicao freed on the right before looping a cross back to the spot where Peter Vagenas steamed in to drive a thumping header and keep the Galaxy perfect on their home ground.LAST MEETING
The Earthquakes captured a 3-0 victory against the Galaxy on June 25 at Spartan Stadium. It was the first game back in San Jose for Donovan since his move to the Galaxy just before the start of the season, and throughout the match the Earthquakes fans showed their displeasure in a raucous atmosphere.
Much to the delight of their delirious supporters, the Quakes took the lead on 37 minutes after Ronald Cerritos drove a low ball into the goalmouth that Alejandro Moreno slid in to poke past Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman.
Ten minutes into the second half Earthquakes 'keeper Pat Onstad did his part in a remarkable sequence that left nearly everyone wondering how the ball didn't go in the goal. A wild scramble ensued after a corner kick that saw Onstad three times deny Jovan Kirovski from point-blank range, with another hitting a defender on the line before Onstad was able to punch clear.
That set the stage for a bizarre three minutes that sealed the match, first defender Michael Umana touching the ball past Hartman as he took it off the feet of Moreno running at goal (65), then center back Tyrone Marshall heading over his goalkeeper on a clearing attempt as Hartman came off his line to deal with a looping ball. The loss kept the Galaxy winless away from Carson since last July.
Here's Dominic Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Kelly Gray, Danny Califf, Eddie Robinson (Ryan Cochrane 86), Wade Barrett - Mark Chung, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Ian Russell 79) - Dwayne De Rosario - Ronald Cerritos (Brian Ching 66), Alejandro Moreno.
Here's Steve Sampson's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Michael Umana, Todd Dunivant - Cobi Jones (Alan Gordon 58), Paulo Nagamura, Guillermo Ramirez - Jovan Kirovski - Landon Donovan, Ednaldo da ConceicaoU.S. OPEN CUP
On Wednesday, the Galaxy dumped the Earthquakes out of the U.S. Open Cup for the fourth time ever, getting two goals from Herculez Gomez then surviving going a man down midway through the second half to hold on for a 2-1 victory.
Gomez put the Galaxy ahead after just five minutes when a clearance out of the Quakes' defense was headed by Jovan Kirovski straight into the path of Gomez, who evaded a challenge from San Jose defender Danny Califf, and scored low to Jon Conway's right.
Then in the 31st minute he scored a second goal that was a near carbon copy of the first. Kirovski was again the provider, as his through ball found Gomez in stride and he duly buried his shot past a diving Conway.
The Quakes were thrown a lifeline in the 63rd minute when Todd Dunivant received a second caution, and in the 76th minute Ronald Cerritos nodded home Brian Mullan's cross to halve the deficit, but the Galaxy held on.
Here's Kinnear's team: Jon Conway, Kelly Gray (Kevin Goldthwaite 71), Eddie Robinson, Danny Califf, Wade Barrett, Ian Russell (Ronald Cerritos 64), Dwayne De Rosario, Danny O'Rourke, Brad Davis (Julian Nash 31) (Mark Chung 72), Alejandro Moreno, Brian Mullan.
Here's Sampson's team: Kevin Hartman, Troy Roberts, Tyrone Marshall, Pablo Chinchilla, Todd Dunivant, Ned Grabavoy (Cobi Jones 70), Peter Vagenas, Paulo Nagamura, Guillermo Ramirez, Jovan Kirovski (Ugo Ihemelu 67), Herculez Gomez (Ednaldo da Conceicao 83).
The Galaxy have now eliminated the Quakes four times in the U.S. Open Cup (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005) including on penalties in 2001 and in extra time in 2002.HISTORY
A year ago, the Galaxy won two of the four meetings - both in Carson - while the Earthquakes won one at home, with the fourth match (in San Jose) ending in a scoreless draw.
The Quakes recorded a victory in a wild 4-2 contest at Spartan Stadium on May 22 (Ching 45, 48; Mullan 54; DeRosario 79 - Herzog 61, Ngwenya 74), before the Galaxy posted back-to-back 2-1 victories at home, the first on July 4 (Ruiz 45, 55 - DeRosario 41), then again on Sept. 11 (Victorine 36, Torres 75 - Ekelund 77). Two weeks later (Sept. 25), the teams then played to the scoreless draw in San Jose.
The visiting team hasn't won in the series in the last two years. The last win by a road team in the matchup came Sept. 21, 2002, when the Galaxy claimed a 1-0 victory at Spartan Stadium.
The Earthquakes haven't won in their last seven league trips to Los Angeles. Their last away win against the Galaxy came April 7, 2001; since, the Galaxy have recorded six wins (with one draw) at home in league play against San Jose.
The Quakes have knocked off the Galaxy in their last two postseason series. They won the dramatic 2003 Western Conference semifinal series 5-4 on aggregate - capped by a remarkable 4-2 San Jose second-leg home win - and also won a berth in MLS Cup 2001 on a Dwayne DeRosario golden goal winner. The Galaxy claimed victory in a 1996 playoff series, 2 games to 1.
Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. LA: P6 W2 L3 D1 ... Steve Sampson v SJ: P4 W2 L1 T1SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes extended their unbeaten streak to five games, getting the only goal they needed to knock off Real Salt Lake 1-0 last Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Earthquakes stretched their lead atop the Western Conference to six points, now with 41 points from 23 matches, ahead of the second-place tie between FC Dallas and the Los Angeles Galaxy, and a point behind East leader New England Revolution in a race for the Supporters' Shield.
Real Salt Lake striker Jason Kreis was honored with a pregame ceremony following his 100th career MLS goal last weekend, as Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman proclaimed it "Jason Kreis Day" in the state, but at the end of the night the San Jose Earthquakes just kept rolling along.
Mark Chung scored the game's only goal four minutes before the end of the first half, cutting back inside a defender before beating RSL rookie 'keeper Jay Nolly inside his near post as San Jose extended their unbeaten run to four games, now with just one loss since the start of June.
Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear made one change to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids the previous Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Brad Davis was hampered by a groin strain and held out, as Brian Mullan came back in on the right side of midfield.
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Kelly Gray, Danny Califf, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Mark Chung (Ian Russell 81) - Dwayne De Rosario - Alejandro Moreno, Ronald Cerritos (Brad Davis 75)
"I think that we did a good job of limiting their chances. They had some balls in box in the second half, but that plays to the strengths of Danny (Califf) and Eddie (Robinson), so we were able to deal with them pretty well," Kinnear said. "Forwards tracked back, midfielders tracked back and every one did their part to keep the shutout. We could have held the ball a bit better at the end, but I am happy with the effort and the three points."TEAM NEWS
Chung now has scored four goals since coming over to San Jose from the Colorado Rapids - all in the last 11 games. "I have never been on a team like this. It is extraordinary that every game the goals come from different people and we do not rely on just one or two guys," he said. Everyone contributes to our success."
The Earthquakes have lost just one of their last six road games - winning three of them. "We try to win every game we play. We don't go on the road and try and get draws, but we go for the win," Onstad said. "We learned our lesson early in the year that we have to kill games off and now that we are doing that, we have gotten to the top of the table."
However, after getting seven shutouts in a 10-game span from May 7 to June 29, it was the first clean sheet for the Quakes since the 1-0 victory against the Rapids the end the run.
"The guys played well tonight in the back. The last three games we have given up some strange goals, but tonight we held them off the board and we earned a great result," Onstad said. "If we keep playing like we did tonight, the shutouts will keep coming."
Still, the Quakes haven't allowed more than one goal in their last five games. "Tonight was a lot of hard work on our part," said Wade Barrett. "Probably wasn't the prettiest game ... but the guys battled hard for 90 minutes. Up until the very end of the game you see Alejandro (Moreno) and Brian Mullan pressuring hard on that end. On the opposite end you see Danny Califf making a great play in the end blocking a shot. There is always someone that steps up on this team. That's what it was tonight. It was fantastic play, just hard work."LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy won for the first time outside of the Los Angeles area in more than a year, defeating D.C. United 3-2 on Saturday night at RFK Stadium. The Galaxy now have 35 points from 24 matches and are tied for second place in the Western Conference with FC Dallas, both teams six points behind the Earthquakes and ahead of the Colorado Rapids by seven points.
Landon Donovan scored two second-half goals to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 3-2 victory against D.C. United for the club's first victory outside of southern California since June 27, 2004 while also putting an end to United's four-game winning streak.
The Galaxy were gifted the opener after 28 minutes when a low cross from Cobi Jones on the right flank was turned into his own goal by United rookie center back Bobby Boswell. But defender Bryan Namoff pulled the home side level just nine minutes later, getting on the end of a Christian Gomez freekick with the slightest of touches to head over Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman.
Yet just eight minutes after the break, Donovan gave the Galaxy the lead after they won a free kick nearly on the edge of the United area. The U.S. international whipped the ball over the wall and off the underside of the crossbar to again nose Los Angeles in front.
United again answered, from the spot through Jaime Moreno, converting his own penalty after he was bundled over by rookie central defender Ugo Ihemelu (66).
Yet Donovan and the Galaxy answered again not a minute later, Jones curling a cross from the left flank over the United defense to the back post where Donovan snuck in to power home a header. The Galaxy then survived a last-second effort from Moreno on the rebound that somehow came back off the face of the bar from close range.
Galaxy boss Steve Sampson made three changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field the previous Saturday. Tyrone Marshall came back from injury for Michael Umana in central defense, and Landon Donovan came back into the team for Jovan Kirovski. Ned Grabavoy made his first start since July 9, coming in on the left of midfield for Guillermo Ramirez.
Here's Sampson's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright, Pablo Chinchilla (Ugo Ihemelu 61), Tyrone Marshall, Todd Dunivant - Cobi Jones (Joseph Ngwenya 76), Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Ned Grabavoy (Jovan Kirovski 58) - Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez
"[These were] three very important points for us. It comes at a very important time for us; our team has not won on the road in so very long," Sampson said. "Leading up to the playoffs it's important that we play better and get results. I think coming out of here with three points against a very good D.C. United team that has won five out of the last six matches, it will give us an enormous amount of confidence going forward."TEAM NEWS
After all his travel and work over the past month, Donovan had a bit of a slow start against United. But his second-half goals changed all that.
"I think he eased into the game; I would have liked it if he was more 'impactful' from the beginning of the game. This is a guy who has played a lot of soccer in the last few months," Donovan said. "This is a guy who tends to pick and choose his moments. He can tend to make a defense fall asleep, so when he does make his run for it, it tends to be very productive, like that 1-v-1 breakaway that he could have put away. Before that we had not seen much of Landon Donovan. I think that was the emphasis that got him into the game. Once he missed that opportunity that motivated him to make a difference in the game."
Of course, there was some happiness at having won on the road for the first time in almost 14 months. The Galaxy had won two "road" games in the interval - both against Chivas USA, one at The Home Depot Center, one at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
"Obviously (winning on the road) is a long time coming," said L.A. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. "The passion with which this team has been playing as of late, whether it's in practice or in games, is really something that's going to be the determining factor in whether we're able to get those wins on the road. I think tonight we were unfortunate to be tied up twice, but to continue to come back and continue to fight (showed that we were) passionate about the effort we were giving."
