Galactic Team Suffers Another Defeat to Quakes in Disheartening Outing
The San Jose Earthquakes edged past the Los Angeles Galaxy with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday, extending the latter's Major League Soccer (MLS) record season-opening winless streak. Ousseni Bouda found the back of the net in the 74th minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Preston Judd for his third goal of the season.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for San Jose in the California Clasico rivalry. The outcome adds to the mounting pressure on the Galaxy, who are yet to taste victory this season, collecting just 12 points from 20 games (0-12-4).
This prolonged slump has placed the Galaxy tantalizingly close to notorious obscurity, with 16 consecutive games without a win matching the MLS record set by the 2021 Houston Dynamo. However, the Los Angeles side holds an unrivaled distinction of starting the season with 12 consecutive games without a win—a record for the most winless games in the opening stretch of any MLS campaign.
Earl Edwards Jr. made six saves to keep his third clean sheet of the season for San Jose, who are currently unbeaten in eight games across all competitions in May. Coach Bruce Arena, who led the Galaxy for nine seasons and won three MLS Cup titles, enjoyed a successful return to his former stomping ground. The Galaxy nearly salvaged a draw in the final minute of second-half injury time, but Edwards Jr. saved captain Maya Yoshida's header deep in the San Jose box to preserve the victory.
Post-match, supporters chanted for improvement after the final whistle.
Elsewhere, the Galaxy's woes persist despite the return to health of several international veterans, including Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, and Marco Reus. The latter had to exit the game in the 59th minute due to a knee injury, with the Galaxy still appearing disjointed in attack and disappointing with their passing. Catalan midfielder Riqui Puig, who orchestrated their excellence last season, remains on the sidelines due to a knee ligament injury, while the Galaxy have lost key contributors due to salary cap constraints created by title bonuses in players' contracts.
As the Galaxy prepare for their next match, a home game against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, their 17-game winless streak continues to test the resolve of the club's leadership, who have chosen to withstand calls for coach Greg Vanney's departure. The Galaxy's next opportunity to break free from the record books comes on June 14, when they travel to St. Louis. If they fail to secure a win in those two fixtures, they face the prospect of equaling or surpassing the historic 19 consecutive winless matches by the 1999 MetroStars.
- The recent victory by the San Jose Earthquakes over the Los Angeles Galaxy in Los Angeles was significant, as it happened in the same state where both teams reside, California.
- The victory by the San Jose Earthquakes not only extended the Los Angeles Galaxy's MLS record season-opening winless streak but also added to the pressure on the latter, especially in the sports of football.
- The health of several international veterans, including Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, and Marco Reus, has been restored, but their performance in the Galaxy's attack remains disappointing, affecting the team's overall performance in sports.
