CARSON, Calif. – Playing their second practice game of the week, the LA Galaxy came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center. Ike Opara gave the visitors a 1-0 lead just four minutes into the game, only for Mike Magee to equalize six minutes from the end to claim the draw.
After holding both Loyola Marymount and the Portland Timbers scoreless in the first half of their previous preseason matches, the Galaxy were unable to repeat the feat again this afternoon, falling behind 1-0 after just four minutes. San Jose won a corner kick on the right wing, and Joey Gjersten provided the cross, which Ike Opara was able to re-direct past Josh Saunders from close range, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
The Galaxy looked to strike back quickly with Chad Barrett testing Jon Busch from 18 yards out, only to see his shot fly just over the crossbar. Juan Pablo Angel started up front alongside Barrett once again and created a pair of good chances later in the half. With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Landon Donovan played Angel in through the left-center channel, only for Busch to come off his line and block Angel’s attempt. Six minutes later, Angel got in behind the defense once again, but his left-footed shot from a tight angle curled just wide of Busch’s left post.
The Galaxy once again made nearly wholesale changes at the half with only Gregg Berhalter and Frankie Hejduk, who came on for Todd Dunivant after 34 minutes, remaining on the field.
With nine new players on the field, the Galaxy opened the second half on the offensive, with Bryan Jordan having a close range shot saved by Busch following an A.J. DeLaGarza cross and Mike Magee having a header saved off a cross from Frankie Hejduk.
At the other end of the field, Brian Perk, who replaced Saunders at halftime, made a pair of saves, and saw one shot hit his left post, keeping San Jose’s lead at just 1-0.
Magee, Jovan Kirovski and Ryan Thomas each went close as the game approached the final 10 minutes, but none could find an equalizer until Magee did with six minutes remaining.
WATCH: Magee scores off a Cardozo freekick
Paolo Cardozo was fouled wide on the right about 20 yards from the goal. The first round SuperDraft pick dusted himself off and took the freekick, whipping a left-footed cross into the box for Magee, who rose above the San Jose defense to head past Earthquakes goalkeeper Jake Gleeson from six yards out, leveling the score at 1-1.
Cardozo remained active until the game’s final moments, narrowly missing with a left-footed shot from 20 yards out, keeping the score tied 1-1.
Scoring
Summary:
LA – Ike Opara (Joey Gjersten) 4’
LA – Mike Magee (Paolo Cardozo) 84’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders (Brian Perk 46’); Sean Franklin (A.J. DeLaGarza 46’), Leonardo (Omar Gonzalez 46'), Gregg Berhalter (Ryan Thomas 60’), Todd Dunivant (Frankie Hejduk 34’); Landon Donovan (Hector Jimenez 46’), Chris Birchall (Jovan Kirovski 46’), Juninho (Paolo Cardozo 46’), Miguel Lopez (Bryan Jordan 46’); Juan Pablo Angel (Adam Cristman 46’), Chad Barrett (Mike Magee 46’).
Download the Galaxy schedule to your desktop or mobile calendar, and stay informed of any additions or changes! Visit www.lagalaxy.com/schedule and click on the "download" banner at the top of the page.
