LOS ANGELES (August 19, 2026) – The LA Galaxy (6‑8‑7, 25 points) defeated Western Conference rival San Jose Earthquakes (10-7-3, 33 points) 1-0 in the 106th edition of the California Clásico derby at Dignity Health Sports Park. Joseph Paintsil scored the go-ahead goal for the hosts in the 79th minute, and JT Marcinkowski recorded a five-save clean sheet to secure all three points for the Galaxy on the night.
Goalscoring Plays
LA – Joseph Paintsil (Habor Miller, Marco Reus), 79th minute: Reus picked out Miller on the right side, and the defender dribbled into the box before squaring a low cross to the back post, where Paintsil tapped it in to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead.
Postgame Notes
- Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and the Galaxy defense have not conceded a goal in the run of the play in the last 298 minutes, spanning the past four games.
- Forward Hirving Lozano earned his first start as a member of the Galaxy and made his debut in front of the home fans at Dignity Health Sports Park in tonight’s match.
- The trio of Joseph Paintsil, Harbor Miller, and Marco Reus have now combined to score in each match against the San Jose Earthquakes this season, with both contests taking place over the past three weeks.
- Forward Joseph Paintsil tallied his fifth regular season goal of the season for the Galaxy and is now tied for most on the team with João Klauss.
- Marco Reus recorded his team-high 11th goal contribution (4 goals, 7 assists) of the season and 13th in all competitions tonight.
- Forward João Klauss (foot) and midfielder Elijah Wynder (ankle) missed tonight’s match due to injury. Defender Emiro Garcés (red card suspension) was also unavailable for selection.
Next Up
The LA Galaxy travel across the northern border and quickly turn their attention to a fixture with CF Montréal at Stade Saputo this Saturday, August 22 (4:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV).
Match Information
Match: LA Galaxy vs San Jose Earthquakes
Date: August 19, 2026
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California
Weather: Clear and 75°F
Scoring Summary
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
LA Galaxy
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
San Jose Earthquakes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
LA: Joseph Paintsil (Harbor Miller, Marco Reus), 79’
Lineups
LA Galaxy: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Harbor Miller, D Jakob Glesnes, D Maya Yoshida, D Julián Aude; M Justin Haak, M Lucas Sanabria, M Marco Reus; F Joseph Paintsil (Troy Elgersma, 83’), F Hirving Lozano, F Kyōgo Furuhashi (John Nelson, 90’)
Substitutes not used: Novak Mićović, Chris Rindov, Isaiah Parente, Erik Thommy, Robert Taylor, Ruben Ramos Jr.
San Jose Earthquakes: GK Angus Gunn; D Jamar Ricketts, D Dave Romney, D Max Floriani, D Jack Jasinski; M Nick Fernandez (Beau Leroux, 61’), M Ian Harkes, M Jack Skahan (Ousseni Bouda, 46’), M Niko Tsakiris (Timo Werner, 46’), M Paul Marie (Vitor Costa, 74’); F Luka Jovanovic (Preston Judd, 61’)
Substitutes not used: Francesco Montali, Daniel Munie, Benji Kikanovic, Jonathan Gonzalez
Stats Summary
|
LA
|
SJ
|
Shots
|
10
|
21
|
Shots on Goal
|
7
|
6
|
Saves
|
5
|
6
|
Corner Kicks
|
2
|
5
|
Fouls
|
12
|
17
|
Offsides
|
3
|
1
|
Possession
|
40.8%
|
59.2%
|
Misconduct Summary
LA: Harbor Miller (caution) 24’
SJ: Nick Fernandez (caution) 29’
LA: Lucas Sanabria (caution) 37’
LA: Lucas Sanabria (caution, dismissal) 45’
SJ: Dave Romney (caution) 57’
SJ: Jack Jasinski (caution) 84’
LA: Justin Haak (caution) 90+2’
Officials
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Servando Berna
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
LA Galaxy Postgame Top Quotes
LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney
On Joe having the game-winning goal after some inconsistency:
“Joe has worn a few of the misses and missed opportunities heavy. He chatted with me a little bit this week on working on some things. You could tell he was feeling a little disappointed and maybe missing some opportunities that the team needed. But I'll tell you this, like, I don't know how many players get to where Joe got to, from where he left, without his pace. So he does get more chances because of what he's physically capable of doing and his speed and everything else. If we can keep building his confidence and keep getting him more confident and cleaner in those final actions, then the amount of goal contributions he can have can be off the charts. So I'm happy for him because it's a confidence thing. And he really helped the team tonight by getting that goal to get three points, obviously. And he can take pride in that and hopefully continue to build off of it as we go to the next one, the next one.”
On JT Marcinkowski:
“I thought JT was huge as well. Early in the game, when we were getting separated front to back, we were giving up, like I said earlier, and as you said, we were giving up some good chances. He made some big saves. Always when you go down a man, there's always going to be one or two that you've got to make. He made them. I think the biggest thing about JT is that he's calm and he's a veteran. He doesn't guess. He calculates the situation and he tries to read and make the save based on the set of criteria in front of him. He's not just fumbling around and guessing stuff. He's really trying to take the situation in and make the best smart goalkeeper move. And a lot of times with staying big, staying in his areas, he's cutting off angles, things like that. I thought he was excellent and was very good with his decisions most of the night in terms of possession and the build, things like that. So, again, maturity is important back there for us, and I thought he was outstanding tonight.”
On Harbor Miller having an extra gear and recording the game-winning assist:
“It's funny because he was standing in front of me and I said, ‘you okay?’ And he gave me a nod, yes. I trust him athletically and physically. I mean, if you were to come to our first day of preseason and you watch the guys do the fitness test, he blows it out of the water and he's always the first guy. His capacity to repeat and to dig deep and push himself and get to the next one and the next one is ridiculous. If he said he could do it, then I trust him to do it. And I thought also I started to notice [Paul] Marie was starting to cramp. I was like, ‘go, he can't. He's not going to stay with you.’ And I feel like he just keeps finding ways to do it. And obviously makes a great decision at the end to slip Joe at the back post. He could have shot. He could have done a number of things and he made the right decision, which was super important. But what I've always said with him in this next phase of his learning is just dealing with the defending side, because what he can do on the attacking side in his capacity is high level. He continues to grow. Last week, he had to deal with Guilherme, who is one of the better players in our league. This week, coming in the second half, he has to deal with a bit of Timo Werner. I mean, what a welcome to right back that is for a young guy. So two good opportunities for him to learn about the game and to make some good decisions, good plays.”
LA Galaxy Forward Joseph Paintsil
On the ups and downs you have as a player:
“Yeah, for me, you know, as a player, as an offensive player, sometimes you have your good days. Sometimes you have your bad days. Sometimes you miss chances. But that shouldn't dim your light. You just need to always raise your head high and just keep trying. The most important thing is trying. But if you stop trying, then you are a failure. So I will always keep trying no matter how difficult and how hard it is. Even when I miss, one, two, three chances, I know for sure that there will be some couple of chances that by God's grace I will utilize, like what just happened, unexpected. I just give God the glory, and I just thank my teammates for making this possible.”
On playing alongside Marco Reus:
“When you talk of Marco, you're playing with an experienced player, someone who knows exactly -- he knows how to use the ball at any time. As you can see, he almost gave me the first goal, but unfortunately it was intercepted by the defender. So, me playing with Marco is such an opportunity, such a blessing for me to be close to him, an experienced player, because my first time playing, watching him was when I went for trials in Hamburg. So I'm really happy that he is with me in this club, and me too, I'm also really learning a lot from him. He does speak to us a lot and telling us exactly what we have to do in the game because he's someone who is a master reader in the game. So, me playing alongside Marco is just a blessing. And I'm just really happy that he is part of the team and I'm playing beside him.”
On the feeling of scoring the game winning goal:
“When I scored the goal -- I was, like, ‘hell yeah. I hope the time is even up so that we can just finish this game as soon as possible.’ But the guys did really good. And kudos to the guys. Harbor was really running everywhere and showing the passion and everything. Not only him, but the defenders were really amazing in this game especially with no goal and playing so hard and giving everything. And as you can see, the offense was also really intact. Even though we were down by one [man], we were just in a good position in our defense. So, I'm just really happy, just really happy that we have these three points.”
LA Galaxy Forward Hirving Lozano
On the quality in the locker room and building chemistry:
“Well, the truth is that it is a very high quality, they are great players, they have played in different very important teams. And the day is very important, so the truth is that it is a different quality. Of course, I have had very little time in the team and we are adapting, we are getting to know each other. I think we are on the right track, but there is still a little more missing. They have to understand me, I have to understand them and well, it is part of it. But well, the truth is that I am very happy to be in a team.”
On the reception from the fans:
“It's incredible. When people receive you like that, it's for a reason. And the truth is that I thank them. I tried to give my maximum on the field, as I have always done. And well, from the moment I was playing, they supported me, they shouted at me, and every game played, they supported me. I think that I thank the people and the fans a lot, because it's a plus for the players, and especially for me. It motivates me a lot to continue helping the team and the club, and to give people that joy. It motivated me throughout the game. I heard them cheering me on, and it made me feel really good. And it motivates me to do better and continue to help the team.
On how he felt in the lead up to the game, knowing it would be his first start in 10 months:
“With a lot of nerves, with a lot of anxiety, with a lot of adrenaline, Since I woke up I was very restless, already on the way here I was very quiet, because many things come to your mind and well, when I arrived the truth is that it is lived differently, besides a game like this against San Jose, which is a Clásico, it is played differently, And well, the truth is that at the moment of the whistle it felt incredible because, again, as a starter in such a difficult game because San Jose is a great team and well, the truth is that I enjoyed it to the maximum, I gave my maximum and that has to be day by day, training by training and game by game.”
On if the move to LA has been worth it:
“No, totally. Of course. I am very happy and very grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play and I am super happy. And I would choose the Galaxy again and the truth is that I have no words for what they have done and what they have given me at this moment and the truth is that from the board, the players, the coaching staff have received me in the best way and I think even the fans. So, I have no words and I am very grateful.”
