CARSON, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the rival LA Galaxy 2-1 on Friday night at Dignity Health Sports Park. The victory sees the Quakes extend their league-best unbeaten streak to 10 as well as propelling San Jose above the playoff line into seventh place.
The Earthquakes had a number of scoring opportunities over the first 50 minutes of the match but were kept off the scoreboard by several strong saves by goalkeeper Jonathan Bond and two shots that hit the crossbar.
San Jose eventually did find the match’s opening goal in the 52nd minute. Luciano Abecasis sent an out-swinging cross into the box where Jeremy Ebobisse headed it home. It marked Ebobisse’s first goal since joining San Jose via trade earlier this month.
LA scored the equalizer 13 minutes later when a low Victor Vazquez corner kick snuck inside the near post.
The Quakes regained the lead just six minutes later. Chofis evaded his defender with some nifty footwork before sending a low cross in front of goal that was deflected in by a Galaxy defender.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose for a bye week before hosting the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, Sept. 4, presented by Audi. The match kicks off from PayPal Park at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on UniMás, and via radio on KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 6-7-8 record (26 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference.
The Quakes extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches (3-0-7). It marks the club’s first unbeaten stretch of 10+ matches in a single season since July-Oct. 2005 (11-0-3). The 10-match unbeaten streak is the third longest in Quakes history (2005 – 14; 2001 – 12).
The Earthquakes extended their unbeaten streak on the road to six matches (2-0-4). It marks the club’s longest unbeaten streak away from home since July-Oct. 2005 (6-0-0)
San Jose is now 27-34-16 all-time against the LA Galaxy, including an 9-22-6 record away from home.
The Quakes have now allowed one or fewer goals in nine consecutive matches, conceding a total of seven goals in that span.
Jeremy Ebobisse scored his first goal since joining San Jose via trade from Portland earlier this month. It marks his fifth goal of the season and 27th of his MLS career. He has now scored seven goals in eight total appearances vs. the LA Galaxy in his MLS career.
Midfielder Chofis tallied an assist on Ebobisse’s goal, marking his second assist of the season and of his MLS career.
Defender Luciano Abecasis tallied an assist on Ebobisse’s goal, marking his second assist of the season and of his MLS career.
MLS Regular Season
LA Galaxy 1 – 2 San Jose Earthquakes
Aug. 20, 2021 – Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
Attendance: 17,568
Michelob Man of the Match: Jeremy Ebobisse
Scoring Summary: SJ – Jeremy Ebobisse (Luciano Abecasis, Chofis); LA – Victor Vazquez (unassisted) 65; SJ – Niko Hamalainen (own goal) 71.
Misconduct Summary: SJ – Luciano Abecasis (caution) 11; LA – Kevin Cabral (caution) 23; SJ – Eric Remedi (caution) 41; LA – Jonathan Dos Santos (caution) 69; SJ – JT Marcinkowski (caution) 86.
LA GALAXY: Jonathan Bond; Julian Araujo, Sega Coulibaly, Niko Hamalainen, Nick DePuy (Victor Vazquez 60); Rayan Raveloson, Sacha Kljestan (Jonathan Dos Santos 60), Sebastian Lletget (Derrick Williams 89), Efrain Alvarez (Samuel Grandsir 60); Kevin Cabral, Dejan Joveljic.
Substitutes not used: Oniel Fisher, Jonathan Klinsmann, Adam Saldana, Jorge Villafana, Ethan Zubak.
SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 12; SAVES: 5
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: JT Marcinkowski; Marcos Lopez, Oswaldo Alanis, Tanner Beason, Luciano Abecasis (Cade Cowell 73); Shea Salinas (Carlos Fierro 73), Judson (Andy Rios 90+3), Eric Remedi (Chris Wondolowski 90+2), Jackson Yueill, Chofis (Paul Marie 81); Jeremy Ebobisse.
Substitutes not used: Siad Haji, Jack Skahan, Tommy Thompson, Daniel Vega.
SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 13; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 3
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MATIAS ALMEYDA
On his analysis of the match:
“We have been improving for a while now. In some of our draws, we deserved some more victories. I think our performance tonight stood out more since this was a derby. I really like how the team played. I like how they played the last game even though we were down a player for 80 minutes. We recovered our identity in how we want to be in San Jose. Our opponent showed a lot of quality. They’re an opponent that has been winning games and are high up on the table. We knew we had to play an intelligent game. I think we had many goal-scoring chances, but their goalkeeper had a standout performance. I think the win was deserved.”
On the team’s reaction to conceding a goal:
“That’s what we’re looking for from the players, to not let down when they make a mistake or concede a goal. That should be natural in football players. I enjoyed when the team went down to 10 men, conceded a goal and then became more unified to defend what we are hopeful for. That is the identity I try to transmit to this group and other teams I have coached. There is a big commitment for each other, and there is a sense of belonging that they earn day-to-day when they put on the jersey.”
On players adapting to different positions:
“I think they performed well. We make them train in different positions. When I change strategies or assign different positions, it’s already been practiced. It gives me pleasure because Tanner Beason is one of those players no one talks about, but he has a great future ahead of him. It really gives me great pleasure. He is not the MVP, he earns little money, but he has a pride that allows him to have the career he is having.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD JEREMY EBOBISSE
On scoring his first goal for San Jose:
“Yeah, it’s very exciting. Obviously, I’ve been brought in here to add my quality to the group, to an already very strong group which is what I learned even more so from the minute I got in, from the first guy to the guy that’s not dressing. This is a group that’s united and working towards the same goal and everyone is ready to step up. I was really happy to get a goal. It was great service in from Lucho [Abecasis] and a great decoy run from Shea [Salinas], allowing me to find my own space in the box. From there, I had had a couple chances early on in the game and the keeper made some good saves so it’s easy to get demoralized in those moments, wondering when is it going to fall my way. But it’s part of the growth and the development of a striker to be relentless and understanding that if you’re missing chances or the goalie’s making good saves, there’s another chance that’s coming your way. I was happy that I was able to meet the quality of the cross that came in with a quality finish as well.”
On if he felt the goal was inevitable tonight:
“Yeah, I go back and forth. Sometimes I feel like when the goalie’s making good saves then it might not be your night. But it’s a part of the ethos of this team to keep going and continue to find a way forward and that’s something that I’ve had to adapt to on the fly. That was showing tonight, missing a couple chances, allowing the goalie to make some good saves, and continuing to push on for that third goal. Even when we take a step back and concede a goal, the mentality of the team to go and find the game-winner symbolizes what this team is capable of.”
