11 great finishes in LA Galaxy-San Jose California Clasico history

Editor's Note: This article originally ran on Sept. 14, 2014 and has since been updated. Because the California Clasico has a long history of dramatic finishes, here’s a look at some of the best:

San Jose 1, LA 2 | May 12, 1996 — In just the second-ever match between the two sides, the Galaxy got an 82nd-minute winner from Greg Vanney that came just seven minutes after SJ's Paul Bravo had equalized for the home team.


San Jose 1, LA 1 | April 3, 1999 — In San Jose, Clint Mathis fired home an 86th-minute equalizer for the Galaxy, 12 minutes after SJ defender Braeden Cloutier picked up a second yellow card.


San Jose 2, LA 1 | October 21, 2001 â€” Dwayne De Rosario scored in the sixth minute of extra time to give the Quakes their first of two MLS Cup titles while sending the Galaxy to a third MLS Cup defeat in six years.


LA 2, San Jose 1 | July 4, 2002 — If Alan Gordon is the Quakes' Galaxy-killer today, Carlos Ruiz was the Galaxy's Quakes-killer back in the day. El Pescadito scored twice, including an 87th-minute winner, as the Galaxy came back to win in front of more than 55,000 people at the Rose Bowl.



LA 1, San Jose 0 | September 14, 2002 — Ruiz did it again later in the year, firing in the winner in the 94th minute at the Rose Bowl.


San Jose 5, LA 2 | November 9, 2003 — The greatest MLS playoff game in history. The Quakes were down 4-0 on aggregate just 13 minutes into the second leg. Then came the most amazing comeback ever, including a 90th-minute equalizer from Chris Roner and the series winner in extratime from Rodrigo Faria.



LA 2, San Jose 2 | July 22, 2010 — A back-and-forth second half saw the Galaxy's Edson Buddle score in the 59th minute, followed by San Jose's Brandon McDonald in the 72nd, and finally a 90th-minute winner from former Quakes hero Landon Donovan.


LA 2, San Jose 3 | May 23, 2012 — The Quakes' Khari Stephenson strokes home a penalty in the 82nd minute, setting up Gordon for a 94th-minute stunner.


San Jose 3, LA 2 | June 29, 2013 — A packed house at Stanford Stadium was treated to one of the most dramatic comebacks in MLS history, as 10-man San Jose got an equalizer from Shea Salinas in the 92nd minute and the winner from Gordon in the 93rd. It is one of the most exuberant goal calls ever.


LA 1, San Jose 1 | May 22, 2016 â€” Veteran MLS defender Marvel Wynne turned Sebastian Lletget's cross into the Quakes' own net in the 83rd minute, but Fatai Alashe flashed in an equalizing header four minutes from time to earn San Jose a hard-fought away point.


San Jose 1, LA 1 | June 25, 2016 â€” After providing the cross on Alashe's equalizer in their previous encounter a month prior, Wade Barrett nodded in his own 90th-minute leveler off Shea Salinas' free kick to send a sold-out Stanford Stadium crowd into a frenzy.


San Jose 2, LA 1 | July 1, 2017 â€” Nearly 20 minutes after Chris Wondolowski scored his ninth California Clasico goal to equalize, Shea Salinas provided a thunderbolt in the fourth-minute of stoppage time (and a shirtless celebration) that will long live in Quakes' lore.