STANFORD, Calif. -- Clarence Goodson brought something new to the California Clasico -- his first MLS goal in nearly eight years -- but the result was just more of the same for the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium: another comeback victory against the LA Galaxy.
Goodson powered home a near-post header from a 53rd-minute corner kick and the Quakes rebounded from an early Juninho wonder strike to post a 3-1 victory Saturday night in their now-traditional pre-Fourth of July intrastate showdown before a sellout crowd of 50,422.
Chris Wondolowski and Cordell Cato also scored for the Quakes, who have come away with wins despite trailing in three of their four meetings against LA at Stanford Stadium. Matias Perez Garcia posted his second two-assist performance in the space of five matches for San Jose (7-5-4), who extended their home unbeaten streak to five games -- including ones at Stanford and Levi’s Stadium.
The loss continued a run of futility away from the StubHub Center for LA (7-6-7), who haven’t won on the road in 16 MLS matches, including twice in last year’s playoffs.
Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo prevented disaster from befalling the visitors in the very first minute, blocking Wondolowski’s point-blank shot off a deflected Quakes corner kick with an already outstretched right hand.
LA’s offensive juggernaut -- the Galaxy came into Stanford off two wins by a combined 10-1 scoreline -- seemed to be rolling once again when Juninho, who scored in both of those previous victories, tallied for a third straight game with a long-range blast in the 17th minute. Dan Gargan helped set the play in motion by regaining possession in the attacking third after San Jose tried to clear a deep cross, allowing Juninho to step into a 35-yard shot that Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham could only deflect into the side netting.
But Bingham came up with back-to-back saves minutes later, grabbing a curling Stefan Ishizaki free kick and snuffing out a low drive from Robbie Keane to keep things close.
Wondolowski made that work pay off in the 28th minute. The Quakes’ captain forced a turnover in midfield and ignited a quick counterattack by feeding a deep ball on the right wing to Perez Garcia. Perez Garcia cut out Galaxy defender Leonardo with a deft dribble, then sent in a low cross which Wondolowski struck with a side-footed volley against Penedo’s momentum, rooting him to the spot as the ball ducked inside the near post.
Galaxy stalwart Omar Gonzalez, who appeared to take the worst of a head-to-head collision with Goodson late in the first half, came off at the interval, and the Quakes pounced on a weakened LA defense playing its third game in eight days.
Goodson used an early pick and a late, looping run to get a free look at Perez Garcia’s delivery. Goodson hadn’t scored in MLS play since Aug. 11, 2007, when he tallied for FC Dallas against Columbus. That stretch included 31 previous matches with the Quakes since returning to MLS from Scandinavia midway through 2013.
The 33-year-old showed some spry legs in his celebration, vaulting the advertising boards and leaping up, Lambeau Field-style, to the railing along the edge of the stands, where San Jose fans mobbed him joyously.
Cato put things away in the 72nd minute, recovering after what looked like a poor first touch on Shea Salinas’ cutback pass off an end-line run to slot a left-footed shot low to the left of a falling Penedo.
San Jose and LA have a short turnaround before they meet again, on Wednesday at Avaya Stadium in US Open Cup Round of 16 action.
