Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Live Blog and Video

Aug 2, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy defender Dan Gargan (33), midfielder Landon Donovan (10) and midfielder Robbie Rogers (14) congratulate forward Robbie Keane (7) after his second goal of the second half of the game against the Portland Timbers at StubHub Center. Galaxy won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Mark Watson’s San Jose Earthquakes clash in the second part of the California Clasico at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The match begins the countdown to the retirement of Landon Donovan from the game of soccer.

Currently, the Los Angeles Galaxy sit in third place in the MLS Western Conference with a record of 9-4-6 [33 points], while the Earthquakes are eighth in the conference with a record of 6-8-5 [23 points]. If Los Angeles prevail tonight, the Galaxy win the California Clasico for this season. As for the Quakes, they need a win tonight to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

Western Conference

TOP FIVE CLUBS IN EACH CONFERENCE REACH PLAYOFFS

PTS: Points, GP: Games Played, PPG: Points Per Game, W: Wins, L: Losses, T: Ties, GF: Goals For, GA: Goals Against, GD:Goal Difference, HG: Home Goals For, HGD: Home Goals Difference, RG: Road Goals For, RGD: Road Goals Difference,

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by NBC Sports Network. The Live Blog will begin at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET. Keep it right here on the MLS Multiplex for continuing coverage of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.

Refresh the page for updates!

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T-90: Welcome to the Live Blog between the Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes, from the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. My name is Jo-Ryan Salazar, co-editor of the MLS Multiplex, along with Chase Ruttig. Glad to have you here on the Plex for this important match.

The preview from MLSSoccer.com…

REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): Eric Weisbrod; 4th: Juan Guzman
Kelly MLS Career: 9 games; FC/gm: 28.4; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 4; pens: 3

SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Dan Gargan … SJ: Steven Lenhart, Jordan Stewart
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Landon Donovan … SJ: Sam Cronin, Alan Gordon, Victor Bernardez
DISABLED LIST: SJ: Tommy Muller
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (55 meetings): Galaxy 27 wins (4 shootout), 86 goals…Earthquakes 18 wins (1 shootout), 72 goals…Ties 10
AT LA (26 meetings): Galaxy 17 wins (2 shootout), 48 goals … Earthquakes 5 wins (0 shootout), 30 goals … Ties 4
FUTURE MATCH: 9/14: San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy, 12 noon PT

2014 (MLS)
6/28: SJ 0, LA 1 (Zardes 61)

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Gyasi Zardes scored the game’s lone goal to give the Galaxy a 1-0 win on June 28 at Stanford Stadium.
• The Galaxy win in the first meeting ended an Earthquakes eight-game league unbeaten streak at home in the series, across three stadiums. The streak started Aug. 3, 2008, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
• In a touch of irony, Landon Donovan is almost the leader for each club against the other. Donovan leads the Galaxy with 8 goals and 7 assists in 15 games for LA vs. the Quakes. In 12 career games for San Jose vs. the Galaxy, Donovan had 4 goals — one behind Ronald Cerritos, whose five leads all Quakes in California Clasicos.
• The teams have met on five occasions in the MLS Cup Playoffs, last in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2012. The Quakes won the first leg 1-0 in Carson, but the Galaxy claimed the series with a 3-1 win at Buck Shaw Stadium, the club’s first win in northern California since 2008.
• Coaches’ records: Mark Watson vs. LA: P4 W1 L2 D1 … Bruce Arena v SJ: P22 W9 L8 D5

The LA Galaxy won their second game on the trot, coming back for a 3-1 victory against the Portland Timbers on Saturday afternoon at StubHub Center. The Galaxy sit in a tie for third place in the Western Conference with 33 points from 19 games.

The San Jose Earthquakes recorded their second win in a row, defeating the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday evening at Levi’s Stadium. The Quakes are in a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference with 23 points from 19 games.

T-75: Well, I don’t have to remind you readers of the big news story this week, and it’s not the MLS All-Stars beating Bayern Munich: Landon Donovan is calling it a career. The MLS Multiplex will miss the greatest American soccer player in history, that’s for sure.

T-71: “It’s sad for us but that’s his decision and we’re behind him and we support him. We want to finish these last months on a high note for him,” said Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant to LAGalaxy.com’s Adam Serrano. “I was surprised. He’s talked a lot about how things have changed and he’s starting to feel like it’s time, but you just think that’s talk and he’ll come around. He’s made up his mind and you can’t fault him for that.

“Obviously, we’d love to send him out on top. That doesn’t change our end goal, but it is a little extra incentive to send him out a champion.”

T-70:

T-60: An hour to go before the show begins. Since this is on NBCSN, there will be a bit of a delay before the game really gets going. A letter from the legend himself…

"After careful deliberation and after many conversations with those closest to me, I have decided that this will be my last season as a professional soccer player.I don’t write these words lightly and this day carries mixed emotions for me.  I am sad to leave a profession that has brought me so much joy.  I will miss all of the teammates who helped me create so many incredible memories on-the-field, and who I have shared many wonderful experiences with off-the-field.  I will miss my coaches, at both the club and national team levels, who have helped me develop throughout my career and helped make me the player I am today.  However, after spending half my life as a professional soccer player, I also am excited to begin a new chapter and pursue other opportunities that will challenge me and allow me to grow as a person.There are so many people I want to thank who have inspired me, guided me and helped me on this incredible journey.  I simply could not have accomplished what I did during my playing career without an overwhelming amount of support from my family, my friends and many others.  I plan to express my gratitude to everyone in a more detailed manner at a later date; however, for now, I want to single out the fans.  You are the lifeblood of this sport and, without you, none of us would be fortunate to call ourselves professional soccer players in MLS.  I feel incredibly blessed and lucky to have played a role in the remarkable growth of MLS and US Soccer during my playing career.  And while my career as a player will soon be over, rest assured I will stay connected on many levels to the beautiful game.As we enter a transformative time for the sport, I will do everything I can to help the continued growth of soccer in the United States.  I look forward to making a difference, pursuing my passions and meeting all of you along the way in this next phase of my life.With gratitude,Landon"

And a press conference…

T-55: Take a look at the Top 10 moments in Landon Donovan’s career.

T-50: So, who is going to replace Landon Donovan in the midfield? My guess is that it will be a certain Jermaine Jones, but I would like to know what you think. Sound off in the comments below!

T-45: Let’s take a look at the other side of the coin, from San Jose’s perspective. They need this win to keep their season alive and even though they are missing key players, they still have the likes of Chris Wondolowski, Atiba Harris and Khari Stephenson to worry about. Steven Lenhart is out and Yannick Djalo is out. That’s two key players that would have made this a close contest.

T-40: San Jose’s X-factor in this match is forward Alan Gordon. With Djalo out due to an injury and Lenhart also out, it is expected that Gordon will be starting and he will need to be kept at bay by the Galaxy defense. Los Angeles must set the pace and play with pace to stand a chance at winning this match. This is a Friday night match, so the crowd will be decent but not a sellout, but you never know…

T-38: Some of the more interesting locations for the countdown to the new Earthquakes stadium are listed here.

T-33: “It’s weird because when you think about the MLS and when you think about US soccer, you think about Landon Donovan,” New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry said. Henry is also retiring from the game. “The amount of games he’s played for the national team, the amount of goals, what he represents for [Americans] is a symbol. It was unexpected, and you have to respect his decision.”

T-31: “I think everybody is [sad to see him go],” said Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley. “He’s still able to play at such a high level and give so much. When you have a teammate, a friend who’s been able to come to terms with something and think about things in a certain way to arrive to a decision he’s happy with, all you can do is not only respect that but be happy for him.”

T-30: “One thing I do know about Landon: he does what he wants to do,” New York’s Tim Cahill said. “He doesn’t care what people think. That’s not an arrogant thing, that’s actually him being a man and he’s got things that he wants to do in his future. He’s a good friend and, more importantly, he’s a great role model on and off the park.”

A half-hour to go. Lineups, etc. coming.

T-25: Lineups, etc.

Lineup

Bench

Officials

T-23: So Khari Stephenson is actually a scratch for this game. Matias Perez Garcia is the man to watch for San Jose. He is a new acquisition that should make a bold statement in this contest. The Galaxy must put the clampdown on Perez because when he creates space, he can be dangerous. Both teams now begin warmups.

T-8: Some of the finer finishes in this series took place. Take a look at this. 

T-3: The San Jose supporters are here for this one. It’s not going to be a dull moment with the supporters in full throat.

T-0: Both teams conclude warm-ups.

I actually want to see how Garcia does in this contest, because he’s supposed to be the man that saves San Jose’s sorry season, based on what I understand. So don’t be surprised if I take a look more at how San Jose manages this match with Garcia on the field. Even if San Jose win this one, it’s going to come down to the final game on Sept. 14 to determine who takes this series.

Both teams reenter the pitch to the strains to the MLS Anthem. A decent crowd tonight.’ Final odds from oddschecker…

LA Galaxy (8/13)
Draw (16/5)
San Jose Earthquakes (9/2)

National anthem by Dana Lee Ryan.

FIRST HALF START: 7:56 P.M. PT/10:56 P.M. ET

1′  – The first half is underway. Can LA get off to a fast start, or will San Jose surprise in the second leg of this world-famous California Clasico?

2′  – A bad touch from Gyasi Zardes. LA with the throw. Donovan with his first touch. San Jose are looking to press the ball and apply their own form of pace. Here they come. Jaime Penedo collects. Jordan Stewart stops Zardes.

3′ – Here’s Chris WOndolowski, the Quakes captain.  Advantage Galaxy. Throw-in, LA, and Jon Busch will take this goal kick.

4′ – Too long for Atiba Harris, one of the many journeymen in this league. LA will need to be careful with their passing.

5′  – Corner for Stefan Ishizaki. Poor header. The rebound is collected by Busch.

6′ – Shaun Francis is shaken up. He may be hurt.

7′ – Francis is back on his feet after they apply the spray to him. Here’s Busch. Not a good long ball. So this will be a throw to the hosts.

8′ – Passing here is a bit difficult to watch early.  Here’s Harris. No dice. Robbie Rogers with the touch.

9′  – At least Zardes is smart with his laying off. Needs to work his speed though.

10′  – Well, LA are being methodical with their passing, and they are forcing San Jose to park the bus.

11′ – Busch with the collection. LA scoop it up though and press. Donovan fails to reel that in.

12′ – Harris. Francis now. Long ball. And the defending from Dan Gargan. Now this is A.J. DeLaGarza with the touch.

13′ – Donovan wins a restart. Not a good touch from Ishizaki. Marcelo Sarvas wins a throw.

14′ – San Jose will need to take advantage of the bad passing from Los Angeles and they will get on board early.

15′  – Early on, it’s scoreless at StubHub Center. Here comes the Quakes. DeLaGarza shows his closing speed.

16′ – Omar Gonzalez with the layoff. One of the more speculative clearances from Stewart. Victor Bernardez with the sweep.

17′ – Very good defensive match here. No wide-open action yet. Will change soon enough, I reckon. Matias Garcia with the takeaway.

18′ – GOAL! San Jose Earthquakes 8 Chris Wondolowski
That was set up by Garcia and as called in the predictions, Wondo puts the Quakes up early.

19′ – And this is not the type of situation you don’t want to be in if you’re LA. Now the match is forced to be a track meet with Wondo scoring the opener.

20′ – The Quakes backline of Stewart, Bernardez, Jason Hernandez and Francis will need to be smart when the ball is placed at their feet. LA win a restart.

21′ – Oddly enough, there is no confetti to be seen at this game. Perhaps the fireworks are going to be a passable substitute.

22′ – Here is a set piece chance for the Galaxy. Cleared. Positioning was off in this instance.

23′ – Offsides, Ishizaki.

24′  – That’s a bad giveaway right there, and San Jose win possession. Back to Jon Busch.

25′ – Well, Zardes was passing that in a landmine, but the Quakes make a meal of it. Free kick, Ishizaki.

26′ – The Quakes have been solid with their clearances. They have been one step ahead of the Galaxy in terms of set pieces.

27′ – Alan Kelly sees something he doesn’t like and he awards a goal kick to Busch. Well, the Galaxy are not showing their form tonight, and against a team like San Jose, that’s the last thing you want to do.

28′ – Gargan. Donovan wins a corner for Ishizaki, who has been stone cold with his set pieces. He takes it short, but Zardes heads it over and wide.

29′ – GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 11 Gyasi Zardes

And we have ourselves a game. Off the deflection and in. This is going to be one of those goal festivals, I’m telling you.

30′ – That didn’t take long. Now both teams are going to tire themselves with all the sprinting.

31′ – Here’s Rogers. Taking a bit too much time to plan his next moves.

GOAL! San Jose Earthquakes 11 Matias Perez Garcia

There’s the man I was telling you about. This is going to be a real goal festival. Great follow-through, and excellent speed.

32′ – Well, Garcia is as advertised, and get to know his name for awhile, readers.

33′ – Harris wins a free kick from about 30 yards out. This is Salinas.

34′ – And that went as well as it was going to go on the transition.

35′ – Here comes Garcia again. What speed.

36′ – Keane tried to lay that off to Zardes. He needs to consider taking this into his own hands.

37′ – A bad shot from Keane. That’s a goal kick for Busch. This is what it’s all about, folks. Great action, great goals.

38′ – We might see another one before this half is over. Busch comes well off his line to stop Keane. He knows how big this result is to the Quakes.

39′ – Took too much time there to make a decision on the right side. Good closing down by the Quakes. Free kick won by San Jose.

40′ – Kelly awards a goal kick to Busch. The home fans don’t like that.

41′ – Here’s Busch with the free kick. Zardes is offsides. Well, the refs are being friendly to San Jose here, and that’s saying something.

42′ – Los Angeles will have to set the pace and go into overdrive because it’s looking like a track meet for the rest of this game.

43′  – That’s a bad touch from Landon Donovan, who, strangely, is not the man of the hour here on the MLS Multiplex. It’s Matias Garcia. A teetering save from Busch. Just outside of the line.

44′ – Francis plays it forward. And Robbie Rogers got upended.

45′ – So, how many minutes are we going to get here, Juan Guzman? One minute.

45′ + 1′ – Halftime, and would you believe this. San Jose are leading.

HALFTIME

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 1

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 2

Team Statistics

Los Angeles in blue, San Jose in red

The stats do not matter if you can’t finish. Los Angeles have been winning the possession battle and have been stringing together better passes, but the inability to finish and Jon Busch’s defending, along with some assistance from CJ Morgante have kept the San Jose Earthquakes ahead in this game.

There were going to be offensive fireworks in this game, that’s for sure. Now it’s up to Los Angeles to establish the pace and dominate in the second. As for San Jose, they will need to pick their poison and capitalize on one bad pass after another to build on their advantage.

SECOND HALF START: 8:58 P.M. PT/11:58 P.M. ET 

46′ – The second half begins. Let’s see if we can see more goals in this contest, it’s been an exciting first half of football.

47′  – Omar Gonzalez plays it forward. LA winning the possession battle again. Good sequence here. Jordan Stewart marks Stefan Ishizaki.

48′ – Juninho now. San Jose parking the bus again. Negative football from the Quakes may prove to be useful for the visitors.

49′ – Shea Salinas with the most unusual of corners conceded…off his face.

GOAL! LOS ANGELES GALAXY 4 Omar Gonzalez

Good set piece from Ishizaki and now it’s 2-2.

50′ – And so, the track meet continues.

Yellow card 20 Shaun Francis
San Jose Earthquakes

51′  – Omar Gonzalez plays it forward. Marcelo Sarvas with the cleanup.

52′ – A spill, and the Quakes get the throw. Ishizaki plays it forward. Busch with another save.

53′ – Francis again. Shea Salinas. Gonzalez clears. San Jose win a free kick.

54′ – 20 yards out. Kelly sees something he doesn’t like. Galaxy with the restart.

55′ – Dan Gargan is offsides. They need to work on that trap a bit better, the Galaxy. Garcia is called back for a whistle.

56′ – I personally think we’ll be seeing Alan Gordon later in this match. Good save by Busch on Zardes.

57′ – Not one of the finer attempts on goal from Marcelo Sarvas.

58′ – Now the Quakes are stringing together some passes and threatening. Good to see if you’re a neutral. Free kick for LA.

59′ – We have a man down on the pitch. Gyasi Zardes is shaken up. Ouch. He took a knock to the knee, I think.

60′ – Good collection from Busch. Zardes is back on the pitch. Victor Bernardes with agility. And Garcia sold that real well.

61′ – More solid passing from LA, but the finish from Zardes is missing. Over and out.

62′ – Jaime Penedo plays it forward. Tough night against the Galaxy’s main rivals.

63′  – This is also from 20 yards out. Who will take this?

64′ – Ishizaki with the chip, Stewart with the clearance. Good night for him. Oh yes, and Clarence Goodson isn’t here. Keane wins a corner.

65′ – Landon to take this.  Omar Gonzalez with a poor header. Kelly awards another free to the Galaxy. This is a tough spot to bend it: right in front of goal, a wall and Jon Busch.

66′ – A.J. DeLaGarza isn’t one of the better free kick specialists and he proved to the fans why that is the case. Right at the wall. Goal kick to Busch.

67′ – Kelly awards another restart to LA. And them to San Jose. And we have another man down for the Quakes.

68′ – It’s Victor Bernardez, fresh off a World Cup tour. This may be the point where Bernardez is subbed off for an attacker, namely Cordell Cato or Gordon.

69′ – Well, Bernardez is up but will he be able to finish the match. Jaime Penedo now.

70′ – Stewart concedes a throw.

Substitution San Jose Earthquakes 

IN 2 Ty Harden

OUT 5 Victor Bernardez

71′ – So the answer is, no, he won’t finish the game; Ty Harden will fill in for Bernardez. Dan Gargan with the throw.

72′ – Stewart concedes another throw. A poor overhead attempt from Robbie Keane.

73′ – More tactical passing from the Galaxy, San Jose responding by parking the bus. Throw-in for Dan Gargan.

74′ – Jon Busch will collect that, and Ishizaki wins a free. 30 yards out.

75′ – Too low. Long ball had too much pace. Gargan’s not going to reach that. And Francis concedes a corner.

76′ – Kelly talks to Ishizaki before this. Busch denies Gonzalez.

77′  – And another corner conceded by Francis. Finish wasn’t there; goal kick.

78′ – This might be a defensive chess match for the next several minutes, or it could wide-open attack.

79′ – Corner, LA. Ishizaki to take.

80′ – Same corner, same person. Not this time, Omar.

Yellow card 4 Sam Cronin
San Jose Earthquakes

81′ – Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy

IN 6 Baggio Husidic
OUT 8 Marcelo Sarvas

82′ – A long cross here…the hesitation, and that led to the collection by Busch, who read that perfectly.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy

IN 38 Bradford Jamieson IV
OUT 24 Stefan Ishizaki

83′ – Substitution San Jose Earthquakes

IN 15 JJ Koval
OUT 11 Matias Perez Garcia

84′ – So now it’s going to come down to the last several minutes, as the goal horn went off accidentally.

85′ – Gargan is whistled for the challenge on Francis. Cordell Cato coming in. Almost an own goal from Stewart. Corner.

86′ – Kelly whistles that back for an infraction in the box by LA.

87′ – Keystone Kops defending from the Galaxy. The transition…corner for the Galaxy.

88′ – Deflection off the wall.

89′ – Substitution San Jose Earthquakes

IN 7 Cordell Cato
OUT 6 Shea Salinas

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy

IN 30 Chandler Hoffman
OUT 33 Dan Gargan

19,702 in attendance.

90′ – There may be drama in stoppage time. We should have a lot of it. DeLaGarza passes it back to Penedo. Five minutes.

90′ + 1′ – Cato with a shot that is collected by Penedo.

90′ + 2′ – Keane is called back for a whistle.  That’s not going to please the home fans.

90′ + 3′ – This as wide open as you can get. Everyone is marking each other here.

90′ + 4′ – Corner for LA. Might be the last chance saloon for the Galaxy. Deflected for a throw.

90′ + 5′ – That sequence went as well as it would go for LA. One final shot for San Jose, and it looks like we will have a draw here. Work on your cross, Bradford. That’s it.

FINAL

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 2

Team Statistics

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