LA Galaxy 3, San Jose Earthquakes 1 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Alicia Rodriguez

The LA Galaxy drew first blood in the 2016 Cali Clasico, beating the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 at StubHub Center on Saturday night. The Earthquakes spent the entire second half down a man, as Simon Dawkins received a straight red card in first-half stoppage time for a tackle on Sebastian Lletget.

Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring in the 56th minute off a set play, adding his second six minutes later as he capitalized on Quakes defender Kip Colvey's poor clearance.

San Jose tried to claw their way back into the match, and Chris Wondolowski scored a consolation goal in the final minutes. But Victor Bernardez tripped Keane in the box moments later, and the Irish international restored LA's two-goal lead from the penalty spot.

Box Score

56’ – LA – Gyasi Zardes (Jelle Van Damme, Mike Magee)
62' -- LA -- Gyasi Zardes
89' -- SJ -- Chris Wondolowski (Marvell Wynne)
91' -- LA -- Robbie Keane (PK)
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Three Things

SCORERS ROLLING: Zardes got his first goals of the season in this game, the fourth multi-goal game in his career. Keane has scored two in three games, both from the penalty spot, but Wondolowski is in the most consistent form in the league to this point (alongside Orlando City's Cyle Larin, of course), having scored a goal in each of his three games in 2016.

EARLY EXIT: Bruce Arena has another injury to deal with on his squad, as starting midfielder Steven Gerrard suffered a calf injury in the opening minutes of the game and was replaced by Baggio Husidic in the fourth minute.

CARDS = DERBY: As you might expect in a rivalry match as heated as the California Clasico, there were cards aplenty in this game. Referee Ismail Elfath handed out seven yellow cards on the night (four to the Galaxy, three to the Quakes) as well as the straight red card for Dawkins' tackle from behind on Lletget. It may have been pretty chippy at times, but it was unmistakably a rivalry game.