We beat L.A.!
Enough said.
Ba-bye Landon..!!
SAN JOSE -- Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan scored for the first time against his former team, but it wasn't enough as the San Jose Earthquakes got a late goal from former Galaxy defender Danny Califf to win 2-1 Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
Alejandro Moreno, another former Galaxy player, also scored for the Earthquakes, who remain unbeaten at home during the MLS regular season. With the win, San Jose extended its lead atop the Western Conference to eight points ahead of second-place FC Dallas, which drew 2-2 with Chivas USA.
The match got off to a strong start, as both teams looked to attack from the opening whistle. Los Angeles nearly got on the board in the eighth minute, but Onstad came up with a big shot to deny overlapping center back Pablo Chinchilla, who had gotten behind Kelly Gray.
Ronald Cerritos was a constant threat early for San Jose, as he was able to collect balls by dropping into midfield as well as get behind the defense on occasion. In the 14th minute, Cerritos received a long pass from Brian Mullan and was able to get a shot off with the outside of his right foot from just outside the penalty spot. However, Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman was able to make the easy save.
Clark had a chance in the 22nd minute, but his full volley missed wide right. After Moreno won a corner kick, Chung served the ball in and it was headed out to De Rosario, who laid it off to Clark at the top of the box. Clark took a touch and then hit his volley.
The Earthquakes' continued pressure resulted in their first goal just a minute later. After Chung was hacked in the right corner by Chinchilla, he found Moreno with the ensuing free kick. Moreno got inside of Marshall and flicked in a header while making solid contact with Hartman. Despite protestations from several members of the Galaxy, the goal stood, and San Jose led in the 23rd minute.
Booed once again on every touch of the ball, Donovan appeared to be off his game in the first 30 minutes of his second visit to Spartan Stadium as an opposing player. Califf added to his woes by shoving him to the turf in the 29th minute, but the veteran defender was able to escape a yellow-card caution from referee Abbey Okulaja.
However, Donovan came to life minutes later. Just seconds after running mate Jovan Kirovski left the game with a contusion to his right knee suffered in a collision with San Jose defender Eddie Robinson, the former San Jose star struck for his first goal against his old team.
Herculez Gomez, who replaced Kirovski, flicked a ball to Donovan, who headed it past the sliding Ricardo Clark. Donovan then let loose with a swerving, dipping shot from 22 yards out into the upper right corner to make it 1-1.
Coming off a spirited midweek U.S. Open Cup match that resulted in eight yellow cards and a sending off of Los Angeles defender Todd Dunivant, the first half was hotly contested but relatively clean.
Galaxy right back Chris Albright was issued the game's first yellow card in the 45th minute for a studs-up challenge on Wade Barrett. San Jose right back Gray then received a caution just a couple minutes later for dissent.
However, tempers began to flare in the second half. After a hard -- but clean -- tackle by Chung on Tyrone Marshall, the Galaxy defender reacted angrily by repeatedly shoving the Earthquakes midfielder. Marshall was shown the yellow card in the 51st minute for his actions. Beyond that, the match featured no further incidents.
San Jose got off to a quick start in the second half as Cerritos nearly scored in the 46th minute off a set piece cross from Chung. Cerritos slipped in behind the Galaxy defense, but his point-blank header was deflected by Hartman and then back off Cerritos for a goal kick.
Sheer effort by Mullan resulted in another scoring opportunity for the Earthquakes in the 61st minute as he outworked Dunivant near the endline to keep the ball in. Mullan then ran the ball down and played it back to Gray, who served the ball in to Dwayne De Rosario for a header that was parried off the bar and over the endline by Hartman.
Moreno got behind the defense in the 64th minute off a combination play from the hustling Chung and De Rosario, but under Marshall's pressure, he was unable to get much on his shot and Hartman saved easily.
The match maintained its intensity throughout as both teams searched enthusiastically for the winning goal. Albright outwrestled Ronald Cerritos in the penalty area to latch onto a free kick by Donovan, but his header slammed off the right post in the 65th minute. Then in the 67th minute, Donovan turned Califf in the area, but his left-footed effort was directly at Onstad.
Off a corner kick from Mark Chung in the 75th minute, Califf beat Chris Albright to the ball and powered a header past Los Angeles goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. For Califf, who spent the first five seasons of his MLS career with the Galaxy, it was his first goal in a San Jose uniform and his first goal since the 2002 campaign.
Donovan nearly broke the hearts of the San Jose faithful yet again, but his 82nd minute free kick was parried over the bar by goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
The Galaxy had a last-gasp effort in stoppage time, but Ricardo Clark was able to challenge Tyrone Marshall just enough to force his point-blank shot off a corner kick over the bar.
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