LA Galaxy Cali Clásico win delights boss Vanney
Greg Vanney was satisfied with how his team came from behind to beat the San José Earthquakes 2-3 and win the 98th edition of the Cali Clásico at PayPal Park.
The Los Angeles Galaxy know that from now on they cannot allow themselves to drop points home or away if they are to have any chance of finishing in one of the top nine places in the Western Conference.
Since the 2023 MLS regular season resumed, the Los Angeles team beat the Chicago Fire 3-0 at home and four days later, travelled to San José to face the Earthquakes, a direct rival in the conference, in the 98th edition of Cali Clásico.
Winning streak extended
Greg Vanney’s team took the lead with a great effort from Tyler Boyd but were trailing by the half hour after Lucas Calegari turned the ball into his own net then Jeremy Ebobisse was left free to turn in Jamiro Monteiro’s cross.
The equaliser came on 49 minutes when Riqui Puig started on a run from the centre of the park then unleashed a powerful strike which entered off the post. A penalty was given when Raheem Edwards was brought down as he tried to run though Jonathan and Trauco - and it was converted by Dejan Jovelic, whos blasted into the roof of the net for his third goal of the season.
The result that keeps the Galaxy alive in their fight to qualify for the playoffs. The team sits second from bottom on 28 points but are now just five points behind FC Dallas, the team in ninth place in the west.
“It’s a big win for us,” Greg Vanney said afterwards. “I think we had a fantastic game and had to get through a lot of difficult moments. We had to come from behind as visitors and we did it. We are in a very good streak and we continue to fight as a team. We will take the energy from today’s game into Saturday’s game”.
The Galaxy has a slight advantage in that they still have 10 games left to play in the regular season to qualify for the playoffs. While the other three teams in the Western Conference that are in the fight: Austin, Sporting KC and Portland have eight games remaining. The Galaxy’s next game will be Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park against the Houston Dynamo, fourth in the west.