San Jose Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez works the sideline during a 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Earthquakes are off to a discouraging start in their second year under Luchi Gonzalez.
The Quakes fell behind by three goals to rival LA Galaxy in their home opener and lost 3-1 Saturday night in the 99th California Clasico at a sold-out PayPal Park.
The Quakes (0-2-0) had a 13-7 edge in shots, but put only two shots on frame. The Galaxy (1-0-1) put all seven of their shots on target, including goals in the 18th, 43rd, and 48th minutes.
The Quakes only lost two of their 17 home games last season and squeaked into the playoffs as the last seed. Their next chance to get their first point of the season will be at home next Saturday night against Vancouver (0-0-1).
Amahl Pellegrino, the leading scorer of the top Norwegian league the past two seasons, didn’t make an impact in his first start for the Quakes. By early in the second half, he was joined by three other newcomers making their home debuts – defenders Bruno Wilson and Vitor Costa and attacker Preston Judd.
Judd got the Quakes on the board against his former team in the 70th minute when he smashed in a loose ball in front of goal. Judd, 24, made 17 appearances for the Galaxy as a rookie last season.
Judd’s goal prevented the Quakes from matching its worst-ever home-opening loss since joining MLS in 1996. Real Salt Lake won 3-0 to start the 2010 season when the Quakes played at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Both teams were coming off disappointing season openers. FC Dallas beat the Quakes 2-1 on a goal in the fourth minute of extra time, while Lionel Messi scored in the second minute of extra time as Inter Miami FC earned a 1-1 tie at the Galaxy.
Originally published at Harold Gutmann