STANFORD, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif.
After conceding in the 31st minute on a Galaxy corner kick, the Quakes found the equalizer in the 42nd minute from midfielder Jack Skahan. Defender Carlos Akapo intercepted a pass at the top of the box and found Skahan who redirected it into the net .
Los Angeles retook the lead in the 47th minute, but San Jose battled back to find the equalizer in the 81st minute from forward Cristian Espinoza. Midfielder Jackson Yueill laid off the ball to Espinoza to fire away for the equalizer.
The Earthquakes will now prepare to face Los Angeles Football Club on the road on Saturday, July 8. Kickoff from BMO Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed globally on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app, as well as on local radio via 810 AM The Spread (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
MEDIA ASSETS
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 7-7-7 record (28 pts.) during the 2023 MLS regular season and currently sit in sixth place in the 14-team Western Conference.
San Jose currently holds a 28-36-17 record against the LA Galaxy, including a 18-13-11 record at home.
The Quakes have only lost twice against LA in ten matches at Stanford Stadium (5-2-3). The first matchup at that venue was on June 30, 2012, resulting in a 4-3 win for San Jose.
Forward Cristian Espinoza scored his ninth goal of the season and 24th of his MLS career.
Midfielder Jack Skahan scored his first goal of the season and second of his MLS career.
Defender Carlos Akapo, who tallied an assist on Skahan’s goal, earned his second of the season and of his MLS career.
Jackson Yueill, who tallied an assist on Espinoza’s goal, earned his third assist of the season and 15th of his MLS career.
MATCH INFORMATION
2023 MLS Regular Season
San Jose Earthquakes 2 – 2 LA Galaxy
Saturday, July 1, 2023 – Stanford Stadium, Stanford, Calif.
Attendance: 42,823
Man of the Match: Cristian Espinoza
Scoring Summary:
LA (1-0) – Raheem Edwards (Douglas Costa) 31’
SJ (1-1) – Jack Skahan (Carlos Akapo) 42’
LA (2-1) – Preston Judd (Douglas Costa, Riqui Puig) 48’
SJ (2-2) – Cristian Espinoza (Jackson Yueill) 81’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Cristian Espinoza (caution) 20’
LA – Raheem Edwards (caution) 40’
SJ – Niko Tsakiris (caution) 57’
LA – Calegari (caution) 78’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 90+4’
LA – Julian Aude (caution) 90+8’
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Daniel (GK); Miguel Trauco, Rodrigues, Jonathan Mensah, Carlos Akapo (Paul Marie 65’); Carlos Gruezo (Ousseni Bouda 78’), Jackson Yueill (C), Niko Tsakiris (Tommy Thompson 65’); Jack Skahan (Benji Kikanović 72’), Jeremy Ebobisse, Cristian Espinoza.
Substitutes not used: JT Marcinkowski (GK), Tanner Beason, Judson, Daniel Munie, Will Richmond.
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4
LA GALAXY: Jonathan Bond; Lucas Calegari, Chris Mavinga, Kelvin Leerdam, Raheem Edwards (Julian Aude 65’); Gaston Brugman (C), Riqui Puig, Mark Delgado (Daniel Aguirre 78’), Tyler Boyd (Efrain Alvarez 63’); Douglas Costa, Preston Judd (Dejan Joveljic 70’).
Substitutes not used: Jonathan Klinsmann (GK), Mauricio Cuevas, Jonathan Perez, Adam Saldana, Gino Vivi.
SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH LUCHI GONZALEZ
On his thoughts on the draw against the LA Galaxy:
“We created 1.7 xG tonight and [LA Galaxy] had 0.6 xG. We created more danger. [LA Galaxy] has one of the best midfields in the league to their credit. I am proud of our response. We did not give up and we pushed until the end. We would have liked to get that third goal. I am proud of our guys in terms of fighting, responding, and showing our fans that we don’t give up.”
On midfielder Jack Skahan’s performance tonight:
“I am really proud of Jack [Skahan]. He is a player that has been in the team for a few seasons. He has been in and out of opportunities but has always kept an amazing attitude. He is a great teammate and has given us a slight verticality with runs in behind and in the box. He brings energy and pressure. He has been coming into games and giving us sparks of energy. He earned the opportunity to start tonight, and he took advantage of it.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER JACKSON YUEILL
On how the team fought back twice from trailing a goal:
“I think it shows that we’re a resilient team, that we’re a team that doesn’t want to put their heads down in this situation. Of course the last couple of games we wanted to get wins, especially at home, but I’m proud of the guys for the effort, the attitude, and the response. I think we could have had a few more moments to put balls away but overall, I think we’ll take, this try to learn from it and move on to next week.”
On the late push to earn the equalizer:
“We wanted to win. We were trying to push for it late. These are awesome games to be a part of, what a stadium, what a venue, what a fan base to play in front of. I think it was loud, it was fun, and it was exciting. Of course we wanted to win and get a goal late. The last minutes are exciting, and you never know what happens. I’ve been a part of a lot of games here, where you score late and you win and we were hoping to win, but we’ll take it and move on.”
