SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell 3-1 to the LA Galaxy on Saturday evening at a sold-out PayPal Park in their Major League Soccer regular-season home opener. Newly acquired Preston Judd scored his first goal as a member of the Quakes.
Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute, followed by a Dejan Joveljić goal to double the lead just before the half. Shortly after the intermission in the 48th minute, Riqui Puig added a third goal for Los Angeles.
In the 70th minute, Judd found the back of the net in a spirited second half that saw San Jose create more chances in front of goal, but the hosts could not complete the comeback despite almost doubling the visitors’ overall shot total (13-7).
The Quakes’ home stand continues on Saturday, March 9, at PayPal Park when San Jose takes on Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as on local radio via 810 AM The Spread (English) and KZSF 1370 AM (Spanish).
GAME NOTES
The Quakes sold out their second consecutive home opener at PayPal Park. Last season, San Jose defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 in front of 18,000 fans.
Tonight’s match marked the 99th edition of the California Clásico and the first time the Quakes hosted the Galaxy in the home opener. San Jose now holds a 28-38-17 all-time record against LA, including an 18-15-11 record at home.
Forward Preston Judd, tonight’s goal scorer for San Jose, faced his former club for the first time this Saturday. Judd played for the Galaxy from 2022-23. Assistant coach Ian Russell also briefly played for LA in 2007 after playing for the Quakes from 2000-05, winning two MLS Cups.
San Jose incurred just their third defeat in 10 total PayPal Park home openers (6-3-1).
MATCH INFORMATION
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 3 LA Galaxy
Saturday, March 2, 2024 – PayPal Park; San Jose, Calif.
Attendance: 18,000
Scoring Summary:
LA – Joseph Paintsil (Mark Delgado) 18’
LA – Dejan Joveljić (Joseph Paintsil) 43’
LA – Riqui Puig (Dejan Joveljić) 48’
SJ – Preston Judd (unassisted) 70’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Mark Delgado (caution) 29’
SJ – Carlos Akapo (caution) 35’
SJ – Preston Judd (caution) 74’
SJ – Vítor Costa (caution) 90+3’
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel; Paul Marie, Tanner Beason (Bruno Wilson 55’), Rodrigues, Carlos Akapo (Vítor Costa 46’); Carlos Gruezo, Jackson Yueill (C), Jack Skahan (Preston Judd 55’); Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse (Benji Kikanović 64’), Amahl Pellegrino (Ousseni Bouda 77’).
Substitutes not used: William Yarbrough (GK),Michael Baldisimo, Alfredo Morales, Daniel Munie, Tommy Thompson.
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 4; FOULS: 17; EXPECTED GOALS: 1.1
LA GALAXY: John McCarthy; Miki Yamane, Julian Aude (John Nelson 71’), Maya Yoshida (C), Martin Cáceres; Mark Delgado (Gaston Brugman 71’), Diego Fagundez (Jonathan Pérez 90+1’), Riqui Puig, Edwin Cerrillo; Dejan Joveljić (Miguel Berry 63’), Joseph Paintsil (Gabriel Pec 63’).
Substitutes not used: Daniel Aguirre, Mauricio Cuevas, Novak Micović, Eriq Zavaleta.
SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1; FOULS: 7; EXPECTED GOALS: 1.7
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH LUCHI GONZALEZ
On his overall impressions of tonight’s game:
“It's a derby, and we didn't play with enough pride, physicality, or energy. We are just really disappointed. … If you don't focus on the future, you can't control the past, which is about how people respond. I do believe in our group.”
On conceding the third goal coming out of the half:
“It wasn't our night. We had the opportunity to get the next goal. Giving up that (third) goal was a killer. Sometimes you can regroup; we didn't execute.”
On looking forward to facing Vancouver next week:
“It is early. There's a lot of points still to play for. That is the only positive, honestly. It's about each moment and focusing on the final solution.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD PRESTON JUDD
On scoring his first goal with San Jose:
“It was right place, right time. I was there to finish it in. As a forward my job is to try to score goals and at that point I just needed to bring energy out there on the field. Any bit of energy helps team morale. … I’m looking forward to playing this system and moving forward. I’m looking forward to the next Clásico. There’s a lot of history in these and hopefully next time I get the game-winning goal instead of the consolation goal.”
On facing his former teammates:
“The goal was against my former team, and obviously there are a lot of emotions whether they’re bad or good emotions. At the end of the day as a professional athlete, we are in these big moments, and it’s our job to keep our cool and not play emotionally. I wasn’t too emotional when I got on the field; I just had to get to work.”
