LA Galaxy Earn 3-2 Road Win Over San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Wednesday Nigh
LA Galaxy, (Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023) – Down 2-1 at halftime, the LA Galaxy battled back to earn a 3-2 win on the road over the San Jose Earthquakes in the 98th edition of the Cali Clásico at PayPal Park on Wednesday night. Riqui Puig and Tyler Boyd both scored goals, while Dejan Joveljić recorded the game-winning goal in the victory against San Jose.
Galaxy Run Of Form
With the win over San Jose, the Galaxy improved to 5-1-4 (21 GF, 15 GA) in their last 10 regular season matches played dating back to May 31. Notably, the Galaxy rank first in the Western Conference in points per game (1.9) dating back to May 31, and rank fourth overall in the league behind only the Columbus Crew (2.0), FC Cincinnati (2.0) and Orlando City SC (2.0) during that span. In his last 10 matches played across all competitions dating back to June 21, Riqui Puig has recorded five goals and five assists, while Tyler Boyd has notched four goals and one assist in his last five regular-season matches played dating back to July 4.
LA Galaxy Against San Jose Earthquakes
Wednesday’s match marked the 98th edition across all competitions of the Cali Clásico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, with LA leading the all-time series 46-33-19. Against San Jose, LA holds a 37-28-17 record in league play, a 4-1-1 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a 5-4-1 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs. In 43 all-time regular-season matches played on the road against the Earthquakes, the Galaxy hold a 14-18-11 record. LA is unbeaten in its last four matches played on the road (3-0-1, 11 GF, 7 GA) against San Jose dating back to June 26, 2021. In three meetings between the two teams during the 2023 campaign, the LA Galaxy held an unbeaten record of 2-0-1.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Tyer Boyd (Raheem Edwards), 16th minute: Raheem Edwards’ long pass released Tyler Boyd down the left flank. Boyd evaded a tackle from Jonathan Mensah down the left side of the penalty area, before curling his right-footed shot into the far corner of the goal.
SJ – Own Goal (Calegari), 29th minute: Cristian Espinoza’s shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box was deflected off the head of Calegari and beat Jonathan Bond at the near post.
SJ– Jeremy Ebobisse (Jamiro Monteiro, Cristian Espinoza), 31st minute: Jamiro Monteiro’s low cross into the six-yard box was finished by Jeremy Ebobisse.
LA – Riqui Puig (Edwin Cerrillo), 50th minute: Edwin Cerrillo laid the ball off to Riqui Puig just outside the halfway line. Puig carried the ball towards the top of the area before curling his shot in off the far post.
LA – Dejan Joveljić (Penalty Kick), 61st minute: After Raheem Edwards was fouled inside the penalty area, Dejan Joveljić stepped up to the spot and buried his shot right down the middle of the goal.
Postgame Notes
With the win over San Jose, the Galaxy improved to 5-1-4 (21 GF, 15 GA) in their last 10 regular season matches played dating back to May 31.
Notably, the Galaxy rank first in the Western Conference in points per game (1.9) dating back to May 31, and rank fourth overall in the league behind only the Columbus Crew (2.0), FC Cincinnati (2.0) and Orlando City SC (2.0) during that span.
In eight road matches played across all competitions dating back to May 23, LA holds a 3-2-3 (15 GF, 14 GA) record.
Wednesday’s match marked the 98th edition across all competitions of the Cali Clásico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes, with LA leading the all-time series 46-33-19.
Against San Jose, LA holds a 37-28-17 record in league play, a 4-1-1 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a 5-4-1 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
LA is unbeaten in its last four matches played on the road (3-0-1, 11 GF, 7 GA) against San Jose dating back to June 26, 2021.
In three meetings between San Jose and LA during the 2023 campaign, the Galaxy held an unbeaten record of 2-0-1.
In his last 10 matches played across all competitions dating back to June 21, Riqui Puig has recorded five goals and five assists.
Puig has tallied a goal in three consecutive matches played across all competitions dating back to July 30.
Additionally, Puig has recorded a goal or an assist (4 goals, 4 assists) in six consecutive league appearances dating back to July 1, and ranks third in MLS in goal contributions behind only Luciano Acosta (4 goals, 7 assists) and Ryan Gauld (5 goals, 4 assists) during that span.
Tyler Boyd has notched four goals and one assist in his last five regular-season matches played dating back to July 4.
Dejan Joveljić, who scored his first goal in 16 games played dating back to May 14, recorded his second game-winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes this season.
In six career regular-season matches played against San Jose, Joveljić has recorded four goals.
Edwin Cerrillo recorded his first assist with the Galaxy and completed 63 of 67 passes (94 %) and won four possessions in the win over the Earthquakes.
Raheem Edwards recorded his second assist of the 2023 campaign with the victory against San Jose.
Calegari won a game-high nine possessions and recorded five clearances in his 26th consecutive start across all competitions for LA.
Diego Fagundez made his LA Galaxy debut, logging 55 minutes off the bench.
Jonathan Bond, who made four saves in the win against the Earthquakes, tied Donovan Rickets for the third-most regular-season appearances (81) by an LA Galaxy goalkeeper in team history.
Next Game
Next up, the LA Galaxy play host to Houston Dynamo FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Sept. 2. The match on Sept. 2 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
2023 MLS Regular Season
LA Galaxy (7-10-7, 28pts) at San Jose Earthquakes (9-9-8, 35 pts)
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 – PayPal Park (San Jose, Calif.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 1 2 3
San Jose Earthquakes 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
LA: Boyd (Edwards), 16
SJ: Own Goal (Calegari), 29
SJ: Ebobisse (Monteiro, Espinoza), 31
LA: Puig (Cerrillo), 50
LA: Joveljić (penalty kick), 61
Misconduct Summary:
SJ: Rodrigues (caution), 19
SJ: Akapo (caution), 43
SJ: Trauco (caution), 65
SJ: Gruezo (caution), 75
LA: Cerrillo (caution), 83
SJ: Marie (caution), 90+2
LA: Aude (caution), 90+9
Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond, D Calegari, D Eriq Zavaleta, D Maya Yoshida, D Raheem Edwards (Julián Aude, 72); M Edwin Cerrillo, M Uri Rosell (Mark Delgado, 45), M Tyler Boyd, M Riqui Puig (Daniel Aguirre, 79) ©, M Douglas Costa (Diego Fagundez, 35); F Dejan Joveljić (Billy Sharp, 72)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Novak Mićović; D Kelvin Leerdam, D Chris Mavinga; F Michael Barrios
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Riqui Puig, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Riqui Puig, 2); FOULS: 8 (Dejan Joveljić, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4
SJ: GK Daniel; D Miguel Trauco (Paul Marie, 81), D Rodrigues, D Jonathan Mensah, D Carlos Akapo (Tommy Thompson, 84); M Carlos Gruezo (Ayo Akinola, 81), M Jackson Yueill ©, M Cade Cowell (Matthew Hoppe, 71), M Jamiro Monteiro (Niko Tsakiris, 81), M Cristian Espinoza; F Jeremy Ebobisse
Substitutes Not Used: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Tanner Beason, D Benjamin Kikanovic, M Michael Baldisimo
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Cade Cowell, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Jeremy Ebobisse, 2); FOULS: 13 (Carlos Akapo, 83); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 11; SAVES: 2
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Weather: Clear, 79 degrees
Quotes
As far as the injuries, Douglas [Costa] was a dislocated shoulder. He got it back in place and we’ll see how he’s doing as they reassess over the next couple days and see how that goes. I’m not just quite sure what the next steps are there. Riqui [Puig] is okay. He was feeling something in his quad. I don’t think it was specifically muscular pull or tear or anything along those lines. I think it was something else. Not exactly sure. But, he’s okay. He’ll turn it around.”
On Dejan Joveljić’s performance tonight, and getting on the score sheet in some time: |
“That was the most important thing of the day for Dejan Joveljić. He got on the scoreboard, and I know he’s been super stressed out by not providing goals and it doesn’t matter how it comes for guys who are supposed to score goals. Just hitting the net one time and that emotion is important. I thought that was the best moment of the day for him. He gave us some activity from time to time. I thought he had a hard time when we were playing into him as a target and trying to link things up and get things in. It was tough for him today. But I think as he adjusted and started to make some more vertical runs, then I think things started to open up. His run creates some space for Riqui [Puig], who comes inside and finishes that one because he went vertical and through the lines, which backed up the back line and opened up the space for Riqui to drive and get a shot off. So, instead of sometimes where he wants to show and get a shot in between the lines, I want him to continue to look for that run in between the center backs, or the depth and stretch. Because when Riqui gets turned, he’s so hard to keep up with. And you can open up some space and be the recipient of some passes from Riqui as well. Anyway, getting the goal was just huge for him. I know emotionally, because he’s been grinding for a goal for a while.”
On Greg Vanney speaking about the intelligence he possesses in his game, and how he navigates on the field surrounded by the likes of Douglas Costa and Riqui Puig:
“Yeah. Also, to your point of me kind of staying out of the way, they’re technically gifted and they can take players on. I just have to be there just in case they don’t get around them, and try to kill any attack from the other team. And kind of just give that stability and let those players to their thing.”
On the mentality of coming behind and winning, and continuing that mindset through the playoff push:
“I think since I got here, everyone has a mentality that we had 12 finals. And now we have 10 more. I think we have games in hand from the other teams. We’re clicking, just like Raheem [Edwards] just said, and we’re playing comfortable. At times, like today, we get punished, just trying to play pointless passes. But, I think the team is clicking and we’re going to keep going.”
