CARSON, Calif. – A.J. DeLaGarza knows that he could have done better on the play that led to the San Jose Earthquakes’ game-winning-goal last Saturday, but that doesn’t mean that he was going to take those trying to needle him in jest lying down.
The Earthquakes promoted a GIF image of Marvin Chavez’s play that depicts DeLaGarza falling to the ground after to gain position. The play set in motion San Jose’s closing goal that ended on the head of forward Alan Gordon to seal a 3-2 victory for the Quakes.
“I can’t make an excuse for it. It’s not like he crossed me up and did some ridiculous move,” said DeLaGarza. “I tripped over trying to back up.”
DeLaGarza was quick to reply to the social media challenge with one of his own—posting a photo of his two MLS Cup championship rings and attaching San Jose’s official twitter handle. As the rivalry between the two teams continues to become one of the finest in MLS, DeLaGarza admitted that actions like this are simply part of the fun.
“It’s just part of it. I wasn’t upset. Also, for them to take a jab, I couldn’t personally let that happen,” said DeLaGarza. “Obviously, people tagged me in it so I found out. I had some other good things to say, but I went with that one.”
