Earthquakes defeat Galaxy, extend streaks
Jeremy Ebobisse scored in the 52nd minute and the Earthquakes got an own goal in the 71st to beat the L.A. Galaxy 2-1 on Friday night in the California Clásico.
San Jose (6-7-8) is unbeaten in six straight away matches (two wins) and 10 straight matches overall (three wins), the longest streak in MLS. Each streak is the club’s longest of its kind since 2005. Los Angeles (11-8-2) won the first two matches between the clubs this season after winning just twice in the previous 10.
Ebobisse, acquired in a trade from the Portland Timbers earlier this month, headed in Luciano Abecasis’ cross to open the scoring. Ebobisse’s last goal came July 30 — while with Portland — against the Galaxy.
“It was great service in from Lucho (Abecasis) and a great decoy run from Shea (Salinas), allowing me to find my own space in the box,” Ebobisse told the Quakes’ website postgame. “... I was happy that I was able to meet the quality of the cross that came in with a quality finish as well.”
Los Angeles tied it in the 65th minute when Víctor Vázquez curled a corner kick that went off goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski inside the near post.
San Jose went ahead on an own goal by Niko Hämäläine in the 71st minute. Javier “Chofis” Lopez dribbled around his defender on the baseline and sent a pass across the goal that deflected off Hämäläine into the net.
The win sent the Quakes above the playoff line into seventh place in the Western Conference. Manager Matias Almeyda said after the game that his team’s mentality was spot-on after conceding the equalizer.