SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes scored early and tacked on another late to pick up a 2-0 win against the LA Galaxy on Tuesday at the club’s training facility in San Jose, Calif.
Earthquakes (4-2-2, 14 pts.) midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy headed in the decisive goal in the ninth minute. Ballouchy started the sequence as the creator, finding guest player Matt Fondy at the top of the box before the lanky striker blasted a shot off the upper corner of the frame. The ball ricocheted off the ground, took a high bounce and was headed in by Ballouchy from inside the 6-yard box.
Fondy nearly capitalized on another occasion, finding himself open at the near post with fellow guest player Jordan Stewart crossing from the wing in the 30th minute. Fondy slid and one-timed a shot on target, but Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Perk made an eye-grabbing reaction save to keep the score at 1-0.
The Galaxy’s best chance of the first half came one minute before the midway whistle. Left back Bryan Gaul played a cross in that nearly picked out forward Edson Buddle at the far post. Earthquakes goalkeeper Evan Newton came off his line to punch the ball, but the rebound landed at the feet of LA’s Jose Villareal. The midfielder deked then fired, but the shot glanced off a San Jose defender and away from trouble.
The Galaxy (4-3-1, 13 pts.) had another chance to equalize in the 65th minute as Rafael Garcia dipped a free kick over the wall from 25 yards out. Newton was game to the challenge, diving to his right to make one of his six saves for the day.
San Jose put the game away in the 80th minute as midfielder Khari Stephenson found Sercan Guvenisik showing at the top of the box. The Turkish striker took a touch then tucked a shot away low at the near post for his sixth Reserve League goal.
Substitute forward Jack McBean nearly pulled one back for the Galaxy in the 87th minute, but couldn’t find the frame. After LA fed the ball into the mix with a free kick, a deflection left McBean with a free look at goal, only to see his header glance inches wide.
San Jose returns to Reserve League action on Monday, Sept. 10 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at the University of British Columbia. The Galaxy will play on the same day against the Portland Timbers at The Home Depot Center.
MLS Reserve League
San Jose Earthquakes (4-2-2, 14 pts.) vs. LA Galaxy (4-3-1, 13 pts.)

Sept. 4, 2012 – Earthquakes Training Facility, San Jose, Calif.
Scoring Summary
SJ: Mehdi Ballouchy (unassisted) 9
SJ: Sercan Guvenisik (Khari Stephenson) 80
Misconduct Summary
LA: Bryan Gaul (caution) 55
SJ: Brad Ring (caution) 65
SJ: Evan Newton (caution) 84
San Jose Earthquakes: Evan Newton, Jacob Hustedt, Brad Ring, Josh Suggs, ^Jordan Stewart, Sam Garza, Mehdi Ballouchy, Khari Stephenson, Elisama Padilla (Johnny Knutsen 87), Sercan Guvenisik (Jesse Morales 87), ^Matt Fondy.
Substitutes Not Used: David Bingham, Irving Ventura.
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDES: 7; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 6
LA Galaxy: Brian Perk, Oscar Sorto, Andrew Boyens, Tommy Meyer, Bryan Gaul, ^Christian Wilhelmsson (Hector Jimenez 58), Kenney Walker, Rafael Garcia, Michael Stephens (Raul Mendiola 70), Jose Villareal, Edson Buddle (Jack McBean 46).
TOTAL SHOTS: 17; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 5
^ indicates guest player/trialist
* indicates academy player
