The Los Angeles Galaxy try to inch closer to playoff contention when they face the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in Stanford, Calif.
The game is the second of three installments of the California Clasico rivalry this season. The Galaxy collected a 2-1 home win on May 14, and the Earthquakes will host the Galaxy in San Jose on Aug. 30. Saturday’s game is played on the semi-neutral ground of Stanford (though the Earthquakes are the designated home team).
The May 14 victory was one of just three wins for Los Angeles (3-9-6, 15 points) this season, but the Galaxy have lately been in better form. The team is on a four-game (1-0-3) unbeaten streak. The draws have come in their last three matches.
“It’s been four games that we didn’t lose. Even when you play for (getting over) the playoff line, you need to get back your confidence,” LA defender Chris Mavinga said after last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the Colorado Rapids in Commerce, Colo.
“First thing we need is to learn how to not lose the game. … If we don’t lose, we have more chances to win games. If we don’t concede a goal, same.”
The Earthquakes (7-7-6, 27 points) are on a two-game losing streak and a three-game (0-2-1) winless streak. Last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to St. Louis City SC saw Jamiro Monteiro equalize for San Jose in the 47th minute, but St. Louis regained the lead 11 minutes later on a Samuel Adeniran penalty kick.
“We got composed at halftime and came out aggressive, intense, and attacking-minded,” San Jose coach Luchi Gonzalez said. “We created our first goal, and I was really confident we were going to turn the game around.”
After scoring his first goal of the season, Monteiro is questionable for Saturday’s game due to a lower-body injury.
Jalen Neal and Eriq Zavaleta (international duty) and Memo Rodriguez (thigh injury) aren’t available for the Galaxy. Martin Caceres could also be out for the rest of the season, as the defender will miss the next three to five months after undergoing knee surgery last week.
–Field Level Media