The LA Galaxy drew first blood in the 2016 Cali Clasico, beating the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 at StubHub Center Saturday night. The Earthquakes spent the entire second half down a man, as Simon Dawkins received a straight red card in first-half stoppage time for a tackle on Sebastian Lletget.
Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring in the 56th minute off a set play. Mike Magee and Robbie Keane combined to take a short free kick from the side of the box, before Magee sent an aerial cross to the back post that was headed back across goal by Jelle Van Damme. Zardes poked home that ball to make it 1-0. Zardes scored his second six minutes later as he capitalized on Quakes defender Kip Colvey's poor clearance to beat David Bingham again.
San Jose tried to claw their way back into the match, and Chris Wondolowski scored a consolation goal in the final minutes, off a counterattack set up by Marvell Wynne. But Victor Bernardez tripped Keane in the box moments later and Keane restored LA's two-goal lead from the penalty spot.
Box Score
- 56’ – LA – Gyasi Zardes (Jelle Van Damme, Mike Magee)
- 62' -- LA -- Gyasi Zardes
- 89' -- SJ -- Chris Wondolowski (Marvell Wynne)
- 91' -- LA -- Robbie Keane (PK)
- Full box score
Next Up
- LA: Saturday, April 2, at Vancouver Whitecaps (10 pm ET; TSN2/MLS LIVE)
- SJ: Saturday, April 2, vs. D.C. United (10:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE)
