Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, vies for the ball against San Jose Earthquakes forward Benji Kikanović during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Gastón Brugman, right, defends against San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jamiro Monteiro during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, battles San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Carlos Gruezo for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, moves the ball up the pitch during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, center, claps during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Daniel Aguirre, left, dribbles the ball chased by San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Nicholas Tsakiris during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, recovers the ball defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Paul Marie during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández, left, vies for the ball with San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Judson during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández, right, dribbles the ball past San Jose Earthquakes defenders during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Memo Rodríguez, right, kicks the ball defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Paul Marie during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Lucas Calegari, right, dribbles past San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Lucas Calegari, center chases the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljić kicks the ball for the wining goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández, center right, celebrates with forward Dejan Joveljić after Joveljić scores the winning goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljić, left, reacts after he scores the winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Martín Cáceres, right, vies for the ball with San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Martín Cáceres, left, dribbles the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, vies for the ball against San Jose Earthquakes forward Benji Kikanović during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig looks for an open teammate during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández kicks the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, May 14, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
CARSON — The goal wasn’t pretty, but in the history of the California Clasico between the Galaxy and San Jose, many a goal has been scored that didn’t meet Goal of the Week honors.
At the 60th minute mark, off of a corner kick, Galaxy defender Martin Cáceres got his head to the ball, it traveled toward the goal and San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski, got by him, as if taking a bad hop against a shortstop and into the goal.
Initially, the PA credited the goal to Riqui Puig, in the end, it officially belongs to Cáceres and more importantly, it led the Galaxy (2-6-3, nine points) to a 2-1 win Sunday over their Northern California rivals in front of 16,035 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“I thought it was a great performance,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “I feel like we’re starting to find some rhythm and we will continue to try to build off of it. Getting results from a mentality standpoint, shows you’re on the right track. If we defended the way we did tonight, I think we can win a lot of games.”
At the start of Sunday, the Galaxy had slipped into last place in the entire league.
Despite that, the Galaxy turned in a strong first half, if only for their defensive effort alone. Offensively, the Galaxy led San Jose at the half in the possession battle and recorded six shots, although only one was on goal.
Their fortunes turned in the second half and at the start of the four minutes of additional time, Dejan Joveljic turned in a moment that best suits the California Clasico.
Joveljc, who had just entered the game as a sub, lost the ball, regained it immediately from San Jose defender Jonathan Mensah and beat Marcinkowski inside the far post for the second goal. The goal was his second of the season and the celebration earned him a yellow card. Joveljic took off his jersey top, ran toward the sideline and jumped on the bench with his teammates.
“I pressed that guy very good,” Joveljic said. “I scored a nice goal and I’m happy we won. The three points is very important. We want to make the playoffs and take it one step more than last year, maybe two steps more.
“Everyone needs the support that I have. If every player has support I have, I think sky’s the limit.”
San Jose was looking for a quick 2-0 stretch against its Southern California rivals. Last Saturday, the Earthquakes handed LAFC its first defeat, winning 2-1 in Santa Clara.
In the 68th minute, with the Galaxy holding onto the 1-0 lead, Jamiro Montero had a shot from inside the 6-yard box that Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond kept out to maintain the shutout.
The Galaxy is facing a quick turnaround, with a game set for Wednesday in Columbus, followed a trip to D.C.United Saturday and an even quicker reset after that with the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 game against LAFC set for May 22.
Damian Calhoun is the Prep Sports Coordinator and writer for the Daily Breeze. He's also the soccer writer for the Southern California News Group, covering Major League Soccer and occasionally the U.S. national teams.
