The Earthquakes take their unbeaten record to Los Angeles on Saturday, March 19, where they will face California Clasico rival LA Galaxy. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CSN California, 1590 KLIV (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish).
Last week, San Jose followed their opening day 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids with a 2-1 victory over the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers. Chris Wondolowski hit his second goal in as many games to put the Quakes on their way before Quincy Amarikwa clipped a stunning 35-yard chip to make it 2-1. Portland’s Jack McInerney pulled a goal back as injury time loomed but the Earthquakes comfortably held on for their second win in a row at Avaya Stadium and sit atop the Western Conference going into Week Three.
Amarikwa’s goal hit number one on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 and has been nominated for ESPN Deportes’ Fuera de Juego Premios Matador.
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy All-Time
MLS Regular Season: 20-28-12
Home: 15-10-7 (47 GF, 40 GA)
Away: 5-18-5 (34 GF, 55 GA)
Playoffs: 4-5-1; US Open Cup: 0-5-0
All-Time Scoring: San Jose – 81, LA Galaxy – 95
Last Game vs. Galaxy
Earthquakes 1, LA Galaxy 0; August 28, 2015; Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA
The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the LA Galaxy 1-0 in front of a sold-out, raucous crowd at Avaya Stadium. In the 12th minute, midfielder Anibal Godoy chipped a pass over the Galaxy's backline and in front of forward Quincy Amarikwa. Amarikwa attempted to slot a pass across the box, but LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was able to get down and secure the save. The Earthquakes got on the board first in the 18th minute. Defender Marvell Wynne lofted a pass to the back post, where Amarikwa was able to beat his defender and head the ball on frame. Ricketts lunged to his left and punched it away, but only as far as midfielder Shea Salinas, who headed it into the back of the net. In the 27th minute, Salinas was at it again, dribbling past several Galaxy defenders and into the penalty area. He took the ball to the end line and attempted a left-footed cross, but Ricketts was able to grab it. Eleven minutes later, Wynne sent another dangerous cross into the box and Wondolowski's header nearly doubled the home side's advantage, but his attempt hit the back post. In the 47th minute, Amarikwa's speed helped bring Los Angeles down to 10 men. A long ball over the top led to a foot race between Amarikwa and Galaxy defender Leonardo. Amarikwa was able to get behind Leonardo and force a tough challenge, drawing the red card.
History of the Quakes – Galaxy Rivalry
As the two original MLS teams in California, the Earthquakes (then known as the Clash) and the Galaxy met for the first time on April 28, 1996, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. … In front of a crowd of 40,347, the Clash fell to the Galaxy, 2-1 … From 1996-2005, the in-state rivals matched up more than any other teams in the league … Along with playing each other 60 times in the regular season, the Quakes and the Galaxy have also faced off 10 times in the postseason and five times in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup … The teams squared off in the playoffs in 1996, 2003 and 2005, as well as the 2001 MLS Cup … The Galaxy captured the 1996 conference semifinal series, two games to one, taking the final two contests at the Rose Bowl by identical scores of 2-0 … In 2001, the sides met in the MLS Cup, with the Quakes producing a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph at Columbus Crew Stadium as Dwayne De Rosario scored the winner in overtime … The 2003 Western Conference Semifinal series produced one of the most memorable games in league history … After dropping the road leg of a two-game set, 2-0, San Jose fell behind by that same score after just 13 minutes of the home return to trail the series, 4-0 on aggregate … The Quakes responded with a four-goal explosion in regulation to level the aggregate, 4-4, getting the fourth from Chris Ronér in the 90th minute just moments after he had come into the game … Fellow second-half substitute Rodrigo Faria then struck six minutes into sudden-death overtime to send San Jose to the Western Conference Finals, and ultimately its second MLS Cup … In 2005, having lost the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, 3-1, at The Home Depot Center, the Quakes needed another two-goal comeback to win the series … After going up 1-0 on a Brian Ching goal in Game 2 on Oct. 29, 2005, Ned Grabavoy scored for the Galaxy to end the Quakes’ hopes … That match marked the Quakes’ final game before the team was relocated to Houston on Dec. 15, 2005 … Since returning to MLS in 2008, the Quakes and Galaxy have had a number of memorable matches … The sides played to a scoreless draw in front of what was a Buck Shaw record crowd of 10,872 on June 25, 2011 with the Quakes unable to find a goal despite out-shooting the Galaxy, 25-8, and playing with a man advantage for 47 minutes … The return fixture in Carson resulted in a 2-0 victory for LA as Robbie Keane scored the winner on his MLS debut … The Earthquakes were 2-0-1 against the Galaxy in 2012, rallying from two-goal deficits to knock off their Southern California rival on May 23, 3-2, at The Home Depot Center and June 30, 4-3, in front of 50,391 at Stanford Stadium … San Jose again came from behind in their final regular season meeting of 2012, equalizing a pair of one-goal deficits for a 2-2 draw at Buck Shaw Stadium … After defeating the Galaxy 1-0 in the first leg of Western Conference Semifinals, the Quakes dropped the second match at Buck Shaw Stadium 3-1 and were eliminated from the postseason … The 2013 California Clasico got off to a lively start as the Earthquakes rallied from a 2-1 deficit while playing a man down with goals from Shea Salinas and Alan Gordon in second-half stoppage time, making San Jose the first team in league history to accomplish that feat … The Galaxy won the two teams’ next meeting in 2013 with a 3-0 rout on Aug. 31 at the StubHub Center thanks to a goal from Landon Donovan and a brace by Robbie Keane … The Earthquakes dropped a 1-0 decision to the Galaxy in their first meeting of 2014, a match that drew a sold-out crowd of 50,006 … Newly signed designated player Matias Perez Garcia and U.S. National Team forward Chris Wondolowski both scored in the first half to help the Earthquakes earn a valuable road point with a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center at Aug. 8 … In their third meeting of 2014, the Earthquakes tied the LA Galaxy 1-1 at Buck Shaw Stadium on Sept. 14, thanks to a second half goal from Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski … In their first regular season meeting of 2015, the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the LA Galaxy 3-1 in the California Clasico at Stanford Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 50,422 … The Quakes fell to the Galaxy 1-0 in the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Avaya Stadium on July 1, 2015 … Although the Earthquakes newly acquired forward Quincy Amarikwa scored the first two goals of the match, San Jose was defeated 5-2 at the StubHub Center by the LA Galaxy before triumphing in the first MLS meeting between the rivals at Avaya Stadium when Shea Salinas scored the only goal of the game on August 28.
Earthquakes – LA Galaxy Connections
Galaxy forward Alan Gordon played for the Quakes from 2011-14, scoring 18 goals in 64 games … Quakes assistant coach Ian Russell played in three games for the Galaxy in 2007 … Galaxy technical director Jovan Kirovski played in nine matches for the Quakes in 2008 … Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers was teammates with Quakes defender Shaun Francis on the Columbus Crew from 2008-10 and 2010-2011, respectively … Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza (2005-08), midfielder Robbie Rogers (2005) and Quakes defender Clarence Goodson (2000-03) played at the University of Maryland … Galaxy defender Tommy Meyer (2008-2011) and Quakes midfielder Tommy Thompson (2013) both played at the University of Indiana … Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Perk and Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas were teammates with the Philadelphia Union in 2010 … Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget was born in the Bay Area (San Francisco) … Galaxy forward Bradford Jamieson IV played alongside Quakes midfielder Tommy Thompson for the U.S. at the 2015 U-20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand … Quakes striker Chad Barrett played for the Galaxy in 2011 and 2012, scoring eight goals.
EARTHQUAKES IN THE COMMUNITY
Salinas Kicks Off Expanded Get Earthquakes Fit Campaign, Presented By Sutter Health
Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas was on hand to launch the updated Get Earthquakes Fit Program, presented by Sutter Health, at Millbrook Elementary School in San Jose, last week. Following the club’s partnership with Sutter Health the program, a five-week fitness program that helps aid the fight against childhood obesity, has been expanded for 2016 to reach more Bay Area Elementary Schools.
Vuong Named BAASST Recipient
Chelsea Vuong, 18, a student at Armijo High, Fairfield, who has been accepted to the Harvard and Stanford universities, is the Earthquakes recipient of the 2016 Bay Area All Star Scholarship Team award and will receive a check for $5,000 towards her studies. San Jose will provide the scholarship along with the six other professional sports teams in the Bay Area who choose their own recipients.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
The Godoy Factor
Since his arrival last season, San Jose is 8-1-3 in games started by Panama midfielder Anibal Godoy with 19 goals for, seven against and seven shutouts. Godoy has scored two goals for the club but his pass to Chris Wondolowski for the opener against Portland Timbers marked his first assist.
Perfect Pioneers
The 2-1 win over Portland marked the first time in the Earthquakes MLS history that the team has won its opening two games and was the first time since 2002 that they have emerged victorious from their first two home games.
Shut Outs Shut Out
The Quakes now haven’t been shut out in any of their previous 15 matches dating back to last season - marking the longest active streak in Major League Soccer.
Fortress Avaya
The Earthquakes now 9-3-5 at Avaya Stadium, allowing just 10 goals in 17 matches (0.59 goals per game average).
Wondo’s Galaxy Goals
San Jose striker Chris Wondolowksi has scored six times against LA, which leaves him tied for first place amongst active MLS players with goals versus the Galaxy. Wondolowski has scored in both Earthquakes games this season to leave him with 111 career strikes, which is three shy of Ante Razov for fourth on the league’s all-time leaderboard.
Jack of all Trades
Quincy Amarikwa has now registered both a goal and an assist after his eye-catching display against the Portland Timbers. Amarikwa scored the winning goal on a 35-yard chip against Portland on Sunday just before halftime. He had an assist in the first match of the season on March 6 against the Colorado Rapids.
Rookie Wins Accolades After Full Debut
Kip Colvey, a third round SuperDraft pick, made his first start for the Earthquakes Sunday against Portland. The Kiwi’s performance, which included a secondary assist, saw him named Rookie of the Week by both the Soccer by Ives and Goal.com websites.
Hold the Lead
Head coach Dominic Kinnear improved to 87-6-24 all-time when his side scores first at home, including a 21-1-6 record with the Quakes.
The Kids Are Alright
Kip Colvey (21) started the game while midfielders Matheus Silva (19) and Tommy Thompson (20) both came off the bench.
Champion Slayers
San Jose continues to play well against the league’s top teams, improving to 6-3-2 in games against the reigning champions since 2012.
Off to a Flyer
The Quakes are one of three teams in the league to win their first two games of the season along with Western Conference rivals Sporting Kansas City and the East’s Montreal Impact.
Going Global
San Jose’s victory over Portland was telecast by eight international broadcast partners and reached 122 countries.
Avaya Stadium Makes Shortlist for Top Award
The Earthquakes home, Avaya Stadium, has been nominated for Sports Facility of the Year in the Sports Business Journal 2016 Sports Business Awards. The winner will be crowned in May.
Rugby Returns to Avaya
Following the success of last year’s double header, which saw Canada vs. Japan and USA vs. Samoa bring more than 10,000 fans to Avaya Stadium, the venue will once again host international rugby. On June 18, the US will take on Six Nations outfit Italy in their only Tier One matchup of 2016. Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 17 at Ticketmaster.com.
