Ousseni Bouda scored in the 74th minute and the San Jose Earthquakes continued the woes of the Los Angeles Galaxy with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday night in the California Clasico at Carson, Calif.
The setback extended the Galaxy’s dubious record for worst start in MLS history to 16 games. The historic troubles come after Los Angeles (0-12-4, 4 points) won the MLS Cup last season.
San Jose (6-6-4, 22 points) increased its unbeaten streak in MLS play to six matches (3-0-3). Earthquakes goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. made six saves while registering his second shutout in a three-match span.
The goal by Bouda allowed the Earthquakes to halt a seven-match winless streak (0-6-1) against Los Angeles. San Jose’s previous win against the Galaxy came on July 13, 2022.
San Jose broke the scoreless tie when it quickly moved the ball from its own end to the Galaxy end via a long pass by Rodrigues. Preston Judd tracked down the ball and spotted Bouda, who sent a right-footed shot into the net.
Los Angeles had a mammoth opportunity in the fifth and final minute of second-half stoppage time as Miki Yamane delivered a short cross in front of the net. Maya Yoshida was right on the doorstep and Edwards got his hand on the header to stuff out the Galaxy’s best chance of the match.
Los Angeles has scored just 13 goals this season. The Galaxy had 69 during the 2024 regular season.
Novak Micovic had five stops for Los Angeles.
Both teams took 13 shots and placed six on target.
Los Angeles’ Matheus Nascimento got behind the San Jose defense on a long pass and put a left-footer into the net in the 15th minute, but the apparent goal was nullified due to Nascimento being offside.
The Earthquakes had two big chances in a three-minute span. Ian Harkes’ blast ricocheted off the crossbar in the 22nd minute. Two minutes later, Cristian Espinoza sent a corner kick into the box and Rodrigues headed it just wide left of the net.
San Jose’s Daniel Munie sent a header over the net in the 33rd minute.
Nine minutes into the second half, Gabriel Pec of the Galaxy had his left-footed shot stopped by Edwards.
Judd sent a header just wide left of the Los Angeles net in the 68th minute.
–Field Level Media
