A week after coming back from a two-goal deficit to post a vital victory against Real Salt Lake, the LA Galaxy found themselves on the wrong end of such a comeback, with the San Jose Earthquakes finding yet another way to pull off a late-game result.
The Galaxy jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first-half of Saturday night's California Clasico, but San Jose responded immediately to forge a comeback. Victor Bernardez made it 3-2 just two minutes after the Galaxy's third goal, then Sam Cronin equalized just two minutes into the second half to set up Chris Wondolowski's cheeky back-heel winner in the 61st minute to give the Earthquakes the 4-3 victory in front of a raucous crowd at Stanford Stadium.
The Earthquakes pushed their lead atop the Western Conference to four points with the victory, their latest comeback triumph, while the Galaxy slipped back into sixth place with the loss.
David Beckham had a bittersweet night for the Galaxy, scoring on a beautiful free kick in the first half to negate Steven Lenhart's opening goal, but also showing his nasty side when he struck Cronin with a ball as Cronin lay in the Galaxy penalty area recovering from a knock to the head. The incident cost Beckham a yellow card that will earn him a one-match suspension, a suspension that could be extended by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
Here are the match highlights:
What did you think of the match? Impressed with the Earthquakes ability to battle back late in matches? Think there is anyone in MLS playing better than Chris Wondolowski these days? See the Galaxy rebounding from this loss or do you think this leads to another slump?
Share your thoughts below.
I take that back…San Jose were still up 1-0
He was already sitting up (no longer lying down) and getting ready to get up when the ball hit him. And he wasn’t as much injured as he was dazed after getting kicked/kneed in the face. Have someone do that to you and let’s see how long it takes you to see straight. You’re just p.o’ed because as a dynamo fan you probably hate the quakes (or maybe you just have a crush on Beckham?)
Except that it was a drop-kick and the ball hit Cronin and it then it appeared to hit the ref on the bounce off. Not very professional from a guy with his world standing. Like a previous poster said…anyone else would probably have gotten a straight red for that.
You might want to re-think that, if you’re talking about when Busch was being seen to and he and the trainer were making sure he was ready to continue play and right after that Chavez was down in the center circle. There was no reason for Chavez to be wasting time because 1)it was still the first half with plenty of game time left, and 2) San Jose were behind, so where is the logic in wasting time? With regards to Cronin, he may have been taking his time, but isn’t it up to the ref (who was right there with Cronin) to tell him to get up and play or get off the field and not Beckham’s to kick the ball at him (them, it turns out)? Cuz that’s not going to get a reaction that’s going to waste time?!?
*headdesk* Okay, besides that one. I still wouldn’t call it a love fest.
Exactly! He should be knighted!
Does it mater if the player was on his death bed our just had a cramp its a classless act from a spoiled little $itch. Any other player in the league and it would have been an instant red!
Steven Lenhart doesn’t get nearly enough credit for intelligent play. Watching Sam Cronin’s goal in slo-mo, the ball was headed away from goal before Lenhart, making a diagonal run to pull attackers out of the area, gave the ball a precise flick to redirect it right in front of Cronin.
Wondo’s goal was a bit like the Danny Welbeck backheel in Euro 2012. I’ll bet Chris saw that one, said “I can do that!” and spent the last few weeks practicing the move.
Great game in person, wonderful fireworks, hopefully many new fans were made.
He threw a ball at someone.
I’d say if it was someone other than SBI who stated it, we wouldn’t be taking this possibility seriously.
Actually, I think it was probably made in China. 😉
Julie Foudy blows. I can’t believe there wasn’t anyone else available.
… was made in Cupertino.
Beckham absolutely deserves to be suspended. But the hilarity of this GIF makes what he did my favorite moment of his in a Galaxy uniform:
http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/BECKHAM-TROLLING.gif
It was a magic healing ball. He sprung right up!
Two things:
(1) Not every backheel is “cheeky” — some are just good
(2) Quakes look like this year’s Team of Destiny
You’re saying that it’s okay for players to attack or hit another player if they time waste?
Thanks, now I know to never read anything you write.
“Beckham’s got to learn to control his temper, but I side with him on this one.”
Literally the comment before mine.
The guy on the ground was faking an injury. he is a disgrace to soccer and he deserved a 2×4 across his head, not just a ball vollied at him.
Not a big Becks fan but he was right, totally.
Nobody’s siding with him. Every single commenter so far has said they don’t condone what Beckham did.
Why don’t the Earthquakes play in Stanford instead of Santa Clara? Its a much nicer stadium and gets a pretty good turnout. Its also closer for people coming from the north> I know the new Quakes stadium will make that a moot point but until its up this seems like a better venue
Wasn’t that Beckham’s 2nd yellow? The announcers said he rec’d one in the first half for a foul on Corralles so should’ve been ejected
I agree with you for the most part. But it was pretty funny to see the “injured” player spring up to start arguing after being hit with the ball.
If he was injuried then BEcks cured him. he should be awarded a medical licence.
Cronin is an a$$ and I give becks credit for opposing fake injuriesthat destroy the game.
give Cronin a yellow for simulation of an injury and being stupid on the field of play.
Wahhhh :'(
It was a funny move by Beckham. If volleyed soccer balls were a health risk, we wouldn’t use them.
The LA love fest in here is sickening.
People are siding with a player for intentionally volleying the ball at a player on the ground during a break in play. Seriously, take off your blinders. No excuse at all for that kind of behavior. It’s so far outside generally accepted conduct, even when considering frustration.
The MLS has reviewed yellow cards and given suspensions to some of those players. Last weeks Sporting / Union game an Union player was given a yellow and after review was suspended for a game. I would be willing to say any other player without the name of Beckham would have seen a red card in the game and would have got another game on top of that at minimum.
I don’t condone Beckham’s actions, but I can hardly blame him for being frustrated. Cronin was clearly fine and just trying to waste time, as the second the ball hit him, he sprung up as if his “injury” had never occurred. I HATE when guys do that. It’s pathetic.
Beckham’s got to learn to control his temper, but I side with him on this one.
As Jack Edwards would say, GET UP!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCI7Y6i4_vo
+1
That was a heck of a game! It was a treat to watch on TV, which has to have been 10 times better in person. Way to represent SJ.
The rivalry games so far, the rivalries with history not the ones the league is trying to forces, have been juicy treats this year. Keep ’em coning.
Wondo, are you kidding me with that goal? Man, if only this dude can take this to the next level with the Nats we could have a very decent striker. I’m not saying he’ll score all the time but his ability to show up in the seams will force defenders to think twice.
I wanted to see the Beckham tantrum and found this video on u-tube with commentary from what sounds like a 10-year-old kid from Texas. The kid is totally serious and the effect is totally hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl6XutIrc5A
Extend a suspension that is the result of the accumulation of yellow cards?
Somehow, I don’t see it.
That is idiotic. By that logic it’s Carson not LA. MEH.
Oh by the way, not only are the Earthquakes the only team in the bay area and norcal and therefore represent both, but San Jose is the largest city by population in the bay area / norcal. And the wealthiest. That computer you’re reading this on…?
I was too busy doubling over with laughter to reprimand Beckham. Heh, classico indeed. At least they got the fighting after the whistle is blown part right.
oh god..whats with the woman commentator!!! hahahah
shes terrible
yes…cheesy branding gimmick.
it doesn’t work. LA vs San Fran would be a rivalry. San Jose? meh
totally forgot about this game. There was very little media attention paid to it in Los Angeles.
50k wow..nice. that’s amazing.
who said there was no support for soccer? San Fran should get a team.
Please, yes what Beckham did was out of line but to say he kicked at an injured player is beyond bs…..as soon as the guy got hit he jumped right back up like nothing happened. I realize time wasting is part of the game but he deserved it, just like Beckham deserves being suspended though.
California Clasico? Are we pushing it just a little too much here naming this game ‘Classico’?
What a great game, glad I saw it in person. For those of you not there, Beckham was sill trying to start crap after the game.
but one more win and LA and could have been number one in all the rankings
Stupid move by Beckham but Cronin, and Chavez earlier, we’re being time wasting little b*tches
the league has a very bright future thanks to games like this
DLG 9000
DeLaGarza has crazy eyes.
Great game! Brought some brand new MLS fans to the match. Couldn’t have planned a better intro to this rivalry. GO QUAKES!!!
50,000 people and a thriller of a match. MLS at its best.
Maybe he wants time off to attend the Olympics? Maybe he is upset that he’s not on the GB Olympic team? Maybe he’s upset Tom and Katie have split?
Great game Quakes great to see such a good game for a crowd of 50,000k+
Can be extended? Should be extended by a lot.
He not only volleyed a ball at an injured player because he was frustrated they were losing, but he also hit the official with it. And then he shoved a bunch of opposing players.
I’ve seen some chump moves over the past 15 years of MLS Soccer, but that’s near the very, very top. Volleying a ball at an injured player when play is stopped? Really?