Quakes, Galaxy play to draw at Stanford.
Questionable chant from the stands mars dramatic sellout game at Stanford Stadium
STANFORD — The California Clasico at Stanford Stadium had all the drama that fans come to expect from the Earthquakes’ marquee event.
The game ended in a controversial 1-1 draw on San Jose’s goal in the final minute of regulation time Saturday night to send a record crowd of 50,816 fans home feeling good.
But despite a fifth consecutive sellout at Stanford and another crowd-pleasing Quakes’ comeback this one will be remembered in some circles for a questionable chant considered a homophobic slur.
Some fans participated in a chant yelled at Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe that is traditionally used by supporters of Mexico’s national team. The boisterous chant was used every time Rowe had a goal kick, just as Mexican fans did a week earlier at Levi’s Stadium in a
Copa America game against Chile.
Soccer’s leaders have asked Mexican fans to stop the chant or see their team face sanctions, including playing World Cup qualifying home games without spectators. Mexico’s national team also has asked its fans to stop.
“There’s no place for that in the game of soccer,” said Quakes midfielder Shea Salinas, whose free kick led to the comeback goal. “I’m not proud to see that happening at home games.”
The attention the chant recently has received made it all the more surprising to hear it Saturday, particularly when directed against a team that has an openly gay player, Robbie Rogers, who underwent ankle surgery last week.
The episode also took place on S.F. Pride weekend at an event the Earthquakes use to attract an audience beyond the South Bay.
“It’s a terrible part of the game,” Quakes President Dave Kaval said even as another chant ringed out. “We strive to root that out. We want a family-oriented experience.”
The Clasico at Stanford is scheduled around the July 4 holiday and features San Jose’s biggest rival and a fireworks show. Kaval said the team has tried to stop any kind of hate speech and will eject fans caught making such chants.
But such language has long been an ugly part of the sport and difficult to root out. It spoiled an otherwise perfect night of soccer.
Quakes keeper David Bingham worries that recent discussion about the chant is overblown, although Mexican fans used it at El Tri’s game a day after the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
“It’s not them being mean to anyone,” he said of those who use it. “It’s just what they say.”
The game had lots of yelling, and not just from partisans from each side. One of Major League Soccer’s best rivalries added another dramatic chapter at Stanford as neither team could end long winless streaks.
San Jose (5-4-7) has failed to win in five consecutive MLS games, the Galaxy in seven.
Los Angeles (5-3-8) did end more than 400 scoreless minutes with a second-half goal when Steven Gerrard found Giovani dos Santos in the penalty area. The Mexican star leaned his body into the ball for a commanding header in the 69th minute.
But the Quakes enjoyed another big comeback after their forward Chad Barrett finally scored late in the game after hitting the crossbar in both halves. They did it as steady defender Victor Bernardez sat on the bench after suffering a lower right leg injury in the fourth minute.
As happened in the past at Stanford, the Quakes scored in the closing minutes, as Barrett hit a goal on a header, declaring, “It made up for that miss.”
He added, “If the game was another five minutes, I think we had it.”
Both teams continued battling in the six minutes of extra time with L.A.’s Ashley Cole getting a redcard ejection just before time expired.