Courtesy of LA Galaxy
Sebastian Lletget keyed the Galaxy’s attack on Saturday against San Jose with an assist and the game-winning goal.
Things are finally starting to come together for the LA Galaxy.
Playing at Dignity Health Sports Park for the first time since March 7, the Galaxy found themselves trailing on two separate occasions against the San Jose Earthquakes. Both times however the Galaxy summoned a resolve that has been lacking at times so far this season. A penalty kick goal from Cristian Pavon followed by a Sebastian Lletget goal off a corner kick capped a roller coaster match that ended with a 3-2 win over the Quakes.
“That was a tough game,” Lletget said. “They’re a very tough team, they play a very unorthodox style. You can’t approach it a normal way like how we’re going to approach Portland. It’s two completely different styles. We showed character, we battled and most importantly we walked away with three points.”
Tied at one going into the second half, the Quakes retook the lead in the 59th minute. Cade Caldwell received a pass from Valeri Qazaishvili, juked past Rolf Feltscher before dribbling outside of the penalty area. Caldwell then fired a shot from about 20 yards out at the left corner, the shot got past Keeper David Bingham, beating him far post.
The Quakes held the lead for the next 11 minutes, but the Galaxy got a break beginning in the 70th minute. Efrain Alvarez sent a cross into the penalty area, the cross went off the left hand of Tanner Beason and fortunately for the Galaxy, referee Victor Rivas saw the play and whistled for the penalty area. Pavon stepped up to the penatly spot and two minutes later, Pavon equalized for the Galaxy, burying the penalty to the left side to even the match once more. The Galaxy finally edged ahead of the Quakes int he 82nd minute, and it was Alvarez that again played a role, as he sent a corner kick into the box and Lletget chested the ball past Keeper Daniel Vega near post.
“I think it was good to show support and we had to come back and get ready for this game,” Said Galaxy defender Daniel Steres, who scored the Galaxy’s first equalizer. “Another California rivalry and it feels good to get another win, be on top of that. We’re pretty pleased right now and we’ve got to keep going.”
The first half was also a back and forth affair. The Quakes opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as Tommy Thompson threw a ball to Cristian Espinoza, who immediately touched it back to Thompson. Thompson dribbled to the end line, then crossed inside the 18, the ball found Qazaishvili, who one-timed a shot past Bingham into the back net for the early San Jose lead. It took a little longer for the Galaxy to respond, but respond they did in the 33rd minute, as LLetget sent a long free kick into the penalty area and Steres headed a ball past Vega into the back net for the equalizer.
