The San Jose Earthquakes’ miserable season continued Sunday night with a loss to one of their longest and fiercest rivals.
The Earthquakes fell behind by three goals by the 30th minute in the first half, digging a hole they couldn’t fully escape in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Cali Clasico in Carson.
The Earthquakes, in their 100th meeting with the Galaxy, trailed 4-1 when Los Angeles midfielder Riqui Puig scored in the 56th minute.
San Jose later rallied to cut Los Angeles’ lead to one.
Twelve minutes after Benjamin Kikanovic scored in the 58th minute, Galaxy defender Eriq Zavaleta was given a red card, opening the door for Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse to score on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute.
But with the Galaxy playing with 10 men, the Quakes could not find the equalizer as they were sent to their fourth straight loss.
A year after finishing in ninth place in the Western Conference’s regular season standings with a 10-10-14 record, San Jose, at 1-8-0, remains in 14th place this year. The Earthquakes are already nine points back of ninth place, the final postseason spot.
San Jose is also last in MLS in goals allowed (24) and goal differential (-11),
The Earthquakes trailed 3-0 by the 30-minute mark as Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Maya Yoshida scored for the Galaxy. Paintsil’s goal came on a penalty kick in the 24th minute and gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead.
Yoshida has two goals this season and three in a career spanning 21 starts over the past two seasons.
Rodrigues scored San Jose’s first goal in the 32nd minute. Cristian Espinoza set up Rodrigues’ second career netter.
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John McCarthy totaled four saves for the Galaxy (5-1-3), who lead the Western Conference. William Yarbrough has three saves for San Jose.
The Earthquakes return home to face Nashville SC (1-3-4) on Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
