The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the LA Galaxy 3-1 in the 2015 California Clasico at Stanford Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 50,422. The fourth-consecutive sellout at Stanford was also the largest crowd in the history of the California Clasico. San Jose improved to 4-1-4 in their last nine matches and 4-1-2 overall at home this season.
San Jose nearly opened the scoring in the first minute of the match. Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia whipped in a corner kick and the ball found its way inside the six-yard box. Forward Chris Wondolowski was one of several Quakes around the ball and attempted to volley it past Galaxy keeper Jaime Penedo, but his shot was blocked by a last-ditch effort by the goalkeeper.
The Galaxy took a 1-0 lead on the right foot of Juninho in the 19th minute. A loose ball rolled out to Juninho about 30 yards from goal and he ripped a one-timed shot that dipped towards the bottom-left corner of the net. Quakes keeper David Bingham lunged to his left, but couldn't get enough on it to keep it out.
San Jose leveled the score line in the 28th minute. Perez Garcia held the ball near the edge of the penalty area and lost his defender with some nifty footwork. After creating space for himself, Perez Garcia played a ball across the box about waist high and Wondolowski volleyed a rocket past Penedo. It marked Wondolowski's Western Conference-leading ninth goal of the season and Perez Garcia's fifth assist.
The Quakes took the lead in the 53rd minute. Perez Garcia drove an in-swinging corner kick into the box and defender Clarence Goodson beat his man to the near post and headed it into the back of the net. It marked Goodson's first MLS goal since August 11, 2007 and his first as a member of the Earthquakes. It also marked Perez Garcia's second assist of the match.
San Jose doubled their advantage in 72nd minute. Second-half substitute midfielder Cordell Cato received a pass from midfielder Shea Salinas in the penalty area and proceeded to dribble around multiple defenders before driving a low left-footed strike past Penedo. It marked Cato's first goal of the year and first since September 7, 2014.
Over his last seven MLS matches, Perez Garcia has now registered six assists and a goal, which was named the AT&T MLS Goal of the Week in Week 16. Perez Garcia also tallied his fourth game-winning assist of the season, which ranks tops in Major League Soccer.
San Jose returns to action on Wednesday, July 1, when they host the LA Galaxy in the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7:30 p.m. at Avaya Stadium.
MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 LA Galaxy
June 27, 2015 - Stanford Stadium
Attendance: 50,422
Scoring Summary: LA - Juninho (unassisted) 17; SJ - Chris Wondolowski (Matias Perez Garcia) 28; SJ - Clarence Goodson (Matias Perez Garcia); SJ - Cordell Cato (Shea Salinas) 72.
Misconduct Summary: SJ- Sanna Nyassi (caution) 13; LA - Stefan Ishizaki (caution) 19; SJ - Victor Bernardez (caution) 23; LA - Alan Gordon (caution) 88.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham, Marvell Wynne, Victor Bernardez, Clarence Goodson, Jordan Stewart, Fatai Alashe, Sanna Nyassi (Cordell Cato 60), Chris Wondolowski, Matias Perez Garcia (Tommy Thompson 86), Shea Salinas, Adam Jahn (Mark Sherrod 45).
SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 16; CORNER KICKS: 11;OFFSIDES: 3.
LA GALAXY: Jaime Penedo, Omar Gonzalez (A.J. DeLaGarza 45), Robbie Rogers, Leonardo, Dan Gargan, Stefan Ishizaki (Jose Villareal 78), Juninho, Sebastian Lletget (Alan Gordon 67), Bagiio Husidic, Gyasi Zardez, Robbie Keane.
SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 6;OFFSIDES: 0.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On Clarence Goodson's goal early in the 2nd half:
"I think we were close. Matias [Perez Garcia] was swinging in some good balls, even in the first half with a couple set pieces that looked a little bit dangerous there. Good for Clarence... Congratulations to him. Not only his goal, but I think he's been playing really well for us. It was good, I think you saw it gave the guys a bit of energy and the field opened up a little bit and then we started playing better."
On Chris Wondolowski adapting to not being the striker up top:
"The thing about him is he's a good player. It's a great finish, it's nice to see him come from late and finish off plays like he normally does. On the other side, I thought his passing in the second half was better. He made some real good decisions. So when we won the ball, our first pass out of pressure was either to him or to Matias [Perez Garcia], and it got us up the field. I think he would probably like to be a little bit closer to goal. Also on the other hand, when teams do play 4-4-2, we give him a little bit more freedom to be up top, so he was spending quite a bit of time closer to Adam [Jahn] and Mark [Sherrod]."
On Cordell Cato's performance:
"I thought Cordell [Cato] came in and played really well. I think his inclusion into the game really turned the tide for us, because he found himself in good spots, he rarely wasted a ball when he received it."
On how the game evolved in the second half:
"I thought when the game opened up, we played better. I thought the first half was really a fast-paced choppy game, a lot of long balls, a lot of second balls being challenged. And I think that second goal did open up the game a little bit and obviously we started passing the ball better. So we were making better decisions. I thought in the first half we were a little bit rushed with things like that, and it just made for a bit of a back and forth affair."
On what he told his defense before the game
"Keep an eye on Robbie Keane. The guy's a clever player, he finds good gaps. I thought Fatai [Alashe] did a good job of kind of sitting in front and shielding the back four. But I'll give credit to Clarence [Goodson] and Victor [Bernardez]. I think the last two games they've been very, very good for us. I think there was one chance at the very, very end there that got blocked about six yards out from goal. But the second half I thought we defended pretty well, and those three were playing good - and David [Bingham] when called upon cleaned up some stuff for us too."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
On win:
"It's a great win especially against a rival. Any time you can get three points, it's nice, especially at home. Right now we are playing well, playing tough and playing with a good attitude and that goes a long way."
On goal:
"Great play by Matias [Perez Garcia]. He got out wide and set in a great driven ball and I was just able to pick a corner out and score."
On Matias Perez Garcia:
"I think our chemistry is definitely growing. He's such a skilled and smart player that it makes my job a lot easier."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DEFENDER CLARENCE GOODSON
On first goal of season:
"Great ball by Matias [Perez Garcia]. Lately, he has been putting the ball in some excellent spots. I gained a step on my runner. I got to the corner, made good contact and next thing you we are up a goal."
On defensive effort:
"I think we were a bit nasty tonight; played with an attitude. We were making it difficult for them. You could see we got up to their defensive backs a little bit and they didn't like that too much. They have been on fire offensively, so to get this result is great. Especially for our fans here tonight."
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER CORDELL CATO
On the midfield's performance:
"The coach said that we're always going to have an extra man in midfield. I think we really utilized that today. Shea (Salinas), Sanna (Nyassi) and I were coming inside and creating a lot of space for the outside. We always have one more in the midfield and it definitely paid off."
On first goal of the season:
"It was just about effort. Me making the run to get at the end of the play. Shea did well to cut inside and I just made myself available and lucky enough I was able to finish it."
On making a statement:
"It's a statement from us that we can come up against the best. They're defending champions and we are going to continue with this mentality and this attitude throughout the rest of the season."
