LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to the LA Galaxy 1-0 in a preseason friendly at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Saturday night. It was the second consecutive season in which San Jose traveled to Las Vegas for a preseason contest. It also marked just the second time the two California Clasico rivals have met outside of the Golden State, joining the 2001 MLS Cup Final in Columbus, Ohio.
San Jose nearly grabbed an early lead in the 11th minute. Defender Shaun Francis whipped in a cross from the left flank and Galaxy defender Jelle Van Damme mistakenly redirected the ball towards his own net, but it was saved by goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
Eight minutes later, Francis created another chance. After dribbling past his marker, he floated a ball to the back post, finding forward Chris Wondolowski unmarked. Wondolowski volleyed the ball goalward, but narrowly missed wide, hitting the outside of the net.
In the 27th minute, LA struck first. Forward Robbie Keane lofted a pass to the back post and Gyasi Zardes headed the ball into the back of the net.
San Jose did well to thwart chances by LA at the beginning of the second half. Defender Clarence Goodson blocked shot attempts by Keane and Giovani Dos Santos, keeping the Quakes within striking distance.
In the 62nd minute, San Jose made nine changes to the lineup, with goalkeeper David Bingham and midfielder Anibal Godoy as the only starters to remain on the field at that time.
The Earthquakes continued to press forward, creating several late chances, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
The Quakes return to action on Wednesday, February 17 with a closed-door scrimmage against the Fresno Fuego of the Premier Development League at the Earthquakes Training Facility.
Preseason
San Jose Earthquakes 0-1 LA Galaxy
February 13, 2016 – Cashman Field in Las Vegas, NV
Scoring Summary: LA – Gyasi Zardes (Robbie Keane) 27.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: David Bingham; Marvell Wynne (Kip Colvey 62), Victor Bernardez (JJ Koval 62), Clarence Goodson (Andres Imperiale 62), Shaun Francis (Matheus Silva 62); Shea Salinas (Innocent 62), Anibal Godoy (Adam Jahn 70), Simon Dawkins (Matias Perez Garcia 62), Cordell Cato (Tommy Thompson 62); Quincy Amarikwa (Mark Sherrod 62), Chris Wondolowski (Chad Barrett 62).
LA GALAXY (starting lineup only): Dan Kennedy; Ashley Cole, Jelle Van Damme, Daniel Steres, Robbie Rogers; Emmanuel Boateng, Steven Gerrard, Nigel de Jong, Giovani Dos Santos; Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On match:
“I thought we started slow and as the game went on, we got better. I was happy with that. I thought the end of the first half, start of the second half was really sharp. Just want to put that together for the full 90 minutes.”
