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Galaxy dominate, but Earthquakes still salvage draw at StubHub Center

IshizakiSalinas (USATodaySports)

Photo by USA Today Sports Images

The Los Angeles Galaxy dominated the San Jose Earthquakes in almost every way possible on Friday night at Home Depot Center. Every way except the one that counts, the actual score of their Western Conference showdown.

The Earthquakes mustered just three shots on the night, but converted two of those chances to earn a 2-2 tie against the Galaxy on a night when the home team carried the play and created the majority of the chances.

Chris Wondolowski led the way for San Jose, opening the scoring in the 18th minute with a quality finish before delivering an assist on the debut goal for newly-signed Designated Player Matias Perez Garcia in the 31st minute.

In both instances, the Galaxy responded with goals, first from Gyasi Zardes off a rebounded Robbie Keane shot in the 29th minute, then by an Omar Gonzalez header off a Steven Ishizaki corner kick in the 49th minute.

The Galaxy dominated the run of play, holding a nearly 70/30 possession advantage, and outshooting the Earthquakes 24-3. Bruce Arena’s side couldn’t make the most of that possession though, and paid the price for two defensive blunders, with the Earthquakes capitalizing in both instances.

Landon Donovan impressed in his first match since announcing his plan to retire at the end of the season. His surges forward helped drive the Galaxy attack, and keep the Earthquakes on their heels defensively, but

The draw halted a two match winning streak for the Galaxy, which had won four of five entering Friday’s match. The Earthquakes pushed their unbeaten streak to four matches with the draw.

What did you think of the match? Impressed with San Jose’s newest DP? Think the Galaxy will wind up paying the price for dropping points?

Share your thoughts below.

 

 

Comments

  1. Galaxy should get ronaldinho, and red bull fans would go crazy 🙂 and galaxy win mlscup for cupcakes 🙂

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  2. MLS has no number 10s and 9s or 11s . I’m surprised MLS teams didn’t get mix, ronaldinho or some other #10 with experience.
    If teams like Seattle, galaxy, had a number 10, they would be amazing, given the players they have who understand the one two touch.
    Maybe by next season Bradley will get use to MLS and destroy MLS with his through passes and vision as a number 10 buy he’s not that good.
    There’s sneijder, mr.young mix, ronaldinho, pirlo, that come to MLS and teach how to play the quarterback postion in soccer.

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    • I guess you haven’t seen Diego Valeri play. It was his inch perfect pass over the top of the Bayern defense to Donovan that led to the winning goal in the all star game. This was not unusual for him.

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      • but he doesn’t have keane or dempsey or donovan.
        I repeat, if seattle, red bull, galaxy had a true 10, those teams would be amazing. if bradley gets it straight, tfc will be dangerous.
        plus the new cba 🙂

      • This is the first time I’ve ever agreed with you, El Paso. LA needs a creative attacking mid option to partner with Keane and Zardes. Donovan is playing on the wing these days, and Juninho and Sarvas are way more defensive minded. Hopefully after LD retires, the Gs pick up a creative guy like you’re describing… Though not exactly like you’re describing because we don’t need any more old dudes. I will made an exception for Jesus — I mean Pirlo.

      • I have a fantasy of the Galaxy somehow acquiring Luis Gil this offseason and him thriving as the primary attacking mid next year while Zardes wins the Golden Boot.

      • Morales will be done soon.Gil will take his position and I think after half a season he will move to a European team.

    • If that’s not domination I honestly don’t know what is. Certainly the only thing that counts is the score line, but it distinctly reminded me of a mid-2000’s USMNT game, where the US would play a terribly over matched opponent, get a fortunate counter or two, and hold on for dear life.

      Galaxy were better.in Evey single facet, minus scoring conversion.

      Incidentally I do feel like this game was a clear demonstration of why they needed to close on Sasha or Mix…someone with the quality to take pressure off of (or even set up) a Keane or Zardes in the 18. Our mids are too similar and, though solid, aren’t providing the connection up field to close.

      Gotta say, Robbie is playing a helluva LB these days.

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      • Domination is when you win. They were in possession most of the time but they only had a draw in the end. I was very impressed by Garcia, and I am also very impressed by Wondo’s recent morphing into a player who can hold up the ball and assist and all-in-all look much more efficient than I have seem him in the past.

      • From Miriam Webster “1 : supremacy or preeminence over another 2 : exercise of mastery or ruling power 3 : exercise of preponderant, governing, or controlling influence”.

        For example, as much as I love the nats with my soul, if Wondo had nailed that late sitter against Belgium I would’ve been over the moon…yet I would still concede we were being dominated for the vast majority of the game.

        It’s OK, we can disagree here, just wanted to better explain my position. Fun game though and ya gotta give it to SJ, they made their 3 shots count!

  3. “His surges forward helped drive the Galaxy attack, and keep the Earthquakes on their heels defensively, but ….. ”

    But what?

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    • Keane’s infraction was not easy to see in the angles they showed.. I had to watch it a few times to even see what was whistled, but it looks like he did throw a bit of a well-timed check with those big child-birthing hips of his. His compaints seemed a bit half-hearted and none of the other Galaxy players really showed any indignation…. given the early whistle I’m guessing it more obvious on the field. Still, it was a really remarkable takedown and shot. Really classy stuff.

      All in all, points dropped to be sure for the Galaxy. I do not know how much of this team or coaching staff will be remaining on, but I’ve started to drink the Kool Aid a bit on Zardes and would have to think he is one piece they’d love to keep on during any rebuilding. He has rounded out his game incredibly in the last few months and is showing some qualities I did not know he had in him.

      Reply
      • Ali Dia,

        If you are Zardes do you stay in LA if you can get a good move to a better team?.

        He has benefited greatly from having Keane and LD to mentor and carry him along in their slipstream. With LD gone and Keane seemingly fading Zardes is going to have to make some decisions about how best to raise his game another level.

        I assume he is targeting Russia 2018.

      • Yes this is the questions isn’t it? I have got to say Zardes will have a tough choice if things keep going at this rate. It would be much easier to have a guess if I really understoood what it is that has happened for Zardes that has been facilitating this transformation. It would seem that playing regular minutes alongside Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan would be one obvious factor, and if that is really the most relevant catalyst then yes…. you’d have to wonder whether he should consider rounding out his game elsewhere rather than await an uncertain future in a significant LAG reboot ….

        Having said that, things seem to be clicking for him really well right now. Not just an in-form player, but a player really adding to his skill-set in visible, connecting strides Who knows how ready the kid is to move away from the cocoon? I can’t read much into what I know of his background but he seems to be building good relationships and impressing the right people. Maybe the idea of staying put and taking on responsibilities at his hometown club is inspiring for him right now. Very hard to say, but sustaining this engagement seems to be the most important thing…. Speaking of… I wonder who advises him on these matters– kid looks to be facing quite a few decisions that really weren’t on the horizon until recently.

        As a side note, having been raised in Hawthorne and attended college in Bakersfield, he is one of the few players who might consider Sunderland a liveable town. I’d rather not see this outcome, but that’s about my only condition at the moment.

      • Yes this is the questions isn’t it? I have got to say Zardes will have a tough choice if things keep going at this rate. It would be much easier to have a guess if I really understoood what it is that has happened for Zardes that has been facilitating this transformation. It would seem that playing regular minutes alongside Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan would be one obvious factor, and if that is really the most relevant catalyst then yes…. you’d have to wonder whether he should consider rounding out his game elsewhere rather than await an uncertain future in a significant LAG reboot ….

        Having said that, things seem to be clicking for him really well right now. Not just an in-form player, but a player really adding to his skill-set in visible, connecting strides seemingly by the game. Who knows how ready the kid is to move away from the comforts of home right now… how do we know? I can’t read much into what little I know of his background, but he seems to be building good relationships and impressing the right people. Maybe the idea of staying put and taking on responsibilities at his hometown club is inspiring for him right now. Very hard to say, but sustaining this engagement seems to be the most important thing…. Speaking of… I wonder who advises him on these matters– kid looks to be facing quite a few decisions that really weren’t on the horizon until recently.

        As a side note, having been raised in Hawthorne and attended college in Bakersfield, he is one of the few players who might consider Sunderland a liveable town. I’d rather not see this outcome, but that’s about my only condition at the moment.

      • I am not a regular Galaxy watcher but I’ve watched a fair number of games. Zardes has talent and skill.

        However Keane and LD draw so much attention from defenders, it is hard to imagine they have much left over for Zardes. And Keane and LD have both been very unselfish with Zardes and seem to have taken him under their wing.

        Maybe someone else has seen him play w/o Batman and Robin around but I can’t imagine he’d be anywhere near as effective.

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