Joseph Paintsil scored a goal in the 79th minute and Los Angeles Galaxy pulled off a 1-0 victory over the visiting San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday at Carson, Calif., despite playing a man down the entire second half.
JT Marcinkowski made five saves while facing his former team as the Galaxy (6-8-7, 25 points) won for the first time in six matches since the resumption of play following the World Cup break.
Paintsil’s game winner came off a cross from 19-year-old defender Harbor Miller to give Los Angeles its first goal in three matches. The Galaxy ended up with a win and a draw in two California Clasico rivalry matches this season.
The Earthquakes (10-7-3, 33 points) used eight lineup changes to solve their defensive woes after allowing 12 goals in four matches following the end of the break. But one of the highest scoring clubs in the Western Conference now has been held to one goal or less in four of its past five matches.
Angus Gunn made six saves as San Jose lost for just the third time in 11 road matches this season.
The Earthquakes nearly tied the match in the 89th minute but Jack Jasinski’s header from inside the box was saved by Marcinkowski.
Los Angeles lost midfielder Lucas Sanabria just before halftime when he received his second yellow card in an eight-minute stretch.
The Earthquakes turned up their offensive pressure in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net. San Jose had a 13-5 advantage on shots in the second half. The Earthquakes even went to a more offensive look when Preston Judd and Beau Leroux entered off the bench in the 61st minute but to no avail.
The Earthquakes’ inability to score resembled their inability to deliver early in the match when they opened with a 6-0 advantage on shots before holding an 8-5 during a scoreless first half.
In his second match with the Galaxy, forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano received his first start and played 68 minutes. It was Lozano’s first MLS start since Oct. 4 of last season.
–Field Level Media
