LA Galaxy travel to San Jose for their first away trip of the year. The 99th edition of the Cali Clásico has additional intrigue as long-time Galaxy fan Preston Judd faces up against his old teammates for the first time.
After a record-breaking opening night at Dignity Health Sports Park, Greg Vanney and his team will test themselves on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes tonight at 7:30 PM PST.
The LA Galaxy would do well to build upon an impressive performance in their season opener against Inter Miami. Amidst refereeing controversy and the typical noise surrounding Lionel Messi, the Galaxy stood out for their defensive discipline which served as a foundation for threatening attacking play.
Martin Cáceres and Maya Yoshida displayed top form thanks to a partnership defined by experience and expert positioning. Both veterans looked formidable against the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Their role in orchestrating the defensive shape of their teammates was also vital for the Galaxy’s stability throughout the 90 minutes. Greg Vanney would be wise not to break up a good thing until Jalen Neal eventually returns from an extended injury.
The Galaxy’s midfield was held down against Inter Miami by Edwin Cerillo and Mark Delgado. Both players made headlines for wildly different reasons. An image of Edwin Cerillo and Lionel Messi squaring up against each other went viral after the match. After proving that he has no problem standing up against and pocketing the likes of Messi, there is no doubt that Cerillo will come out confident against San Jose
Mark Delgado was less excited to see his name in headlines as he was involved in a highly controversial incident against Miami. An innocuous slide tackle on Sergio Busquets in the 87th minute was given as a second yellow card by substitute referee Gabriele Ciampi.
The controversy was highlighted more than usual as negotiations between the MLS and the Professional Soccer Referees Association over fair wages continued after the league presented members with an unsatisfactory offer. This incident would fortunately end with a sort of post-mortem justice as the league has now rescinded Delgado’s second yellow card. Greg Vanney will be thankful that Mark Delgado is available again for selection against San Jose.
26-year-old designated player Joseph Paintsil recently joined from Genk in Belgium and looked hungry to score in his Galaxy debut. His play adds a layer of directness that the Galaxy have been missing. Not only did he win a game-high nine duels but Paintsil also managed to turn those recoveries into chances and currently leads the team with seven shots attempted. With his tenacity and willingness to let a shot fly it won’t be long until he finds the back of the net.
Gabriel Pec debuted as a substitute in the 70th minute. He provided an attacking spark off the bench and Greg Vanney will be keen on using Pec as a way to shift the game’s momentum in his team’s favor. With Diego Fagundez playing excellently it is likely that he will maintain the starting rile until Pec wrestles it from him.
Another player looking to score on Saturday is lifelong Galaxy supporter Preston Judd. The striker has just joined the San Jose Earthquakes after scoring 33 goals in 75 games for the LA Galaxy at all levels. Now with San Jose, Judd has made it clear that he is “ready for war” when it comes time to face his old club (La Cuna Galaxiana Podcast).
Judd’s move to the Earthquakes adds to the history of strikers playing for both clubs that began with Landon Donovan who won titles in San Jose and in Carson.
For their part, the Earthquakes began their campaign with a 2-1 loss away to FC Dallas. San Jose found most of their joy in the first half from the right hand side through Cristian Espinoza. His assist to Benji Kikanovic would open scoring in the fifth minute.
Forward Jeremy Ebobisse and wide midfielder Jack Skahan emerged more in the second half, creating chances that San Jose couldn’t capitalize on. These missed opportunities would bite the Earthquakes late in the match as FC Dallas’s Dante Sealy would blast home the winner in the final minute of stoppage time.
After experiencing late disappointment in their opening fixtures both San Jose and the LA Galaxy will be keen to walk away from this match with all three points. The 99th edition of the Cali Clásico takes place at PayPal Park and kicks off tonight at 7:30 PM PST.
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PHOTO: LA Galaxy
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