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MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Campos leads Quakes to Clasico win

June 20, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


OAKLAND -- Goals have been hard to come by this season for San Jose Earthquakes forward Pablo Campos. But against the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Brazilian has looked like a world-beater, tallying a goal and an assist Saturday to give the Quakes a badly needed 2-1 victory against their in-state rivals in the second California Clasico this season.

Campos' penalty kick in the sixth minute -- his second strike against the Galaxy this season -- staked the Quakes to an early lead. His knockdown then allowed Ryan Johnson to double the home side's advantage in the 54th minute. Jovan Kirovski pulled a goal back for the visitors 11 minutes later, but a makeshift San Jose backline withstood some withering pressure to record just their third win of the season and hand the Galaxy their first road loss of the campaign.

An already short bench became even shorter for San Jose prior to kickoff. Injuries to Jason Hernandez and Arturo Alvarez rendered both players unavailable. Combined with Simon Elliott's international duties and Cornell Glen's visa problems, Quakes manager Frank Yallop had to juggle his lineup once again. Brandon McDonald took Hernandez's place in the center of defense, while Bobby Convey recovered from a left hamstring injury to replace Alvarez on the right side of midfield.

Los Angeles was missing the considerable influence of Landon Donovan due to his commitments with the U.S. national team, while Eddie Lewis was suspended. Dema Kovalenko was a late scratch due to a left calf contusion suffered in training. This forced a considerable retooling of the Galaxy midfield, with Jovan Kirovski coming into the middle with Chris Klein and Kyle Patterson manning the flanks.

The last time the two teams met on April 18, it was Campos who had put the home side up after just five minutes. On this occasion he duplicated the feat, as his surging run into the box saw him brought down by Gregg Berhalter after just five minutes. A minute later Campos dispatched the spot kick, sending it just past Donovan Ricketts' dive inside the left post to put the home side up 1-0.

L.A. responded with Klein threatening twice with crosses from the right flank inside of a minute, but Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon responded with a brave punch on the first attempt, while Klein's second effort missed everyone.

Gradually, the Galaxy took control of the midfield, and created a great chance in the 29th minute. Magee broke in alone on Cannon, and after the Quakes 'keeper forced him wide of goal, the Galaxy attacker centered for Kyle Patterson, only to see his close-range shot blocked by Chris Leitch, and then claimed by Cannon.

LA kept the pressure on, but couldn't find a breakthrough. Edson Buddle headed Magee's cross just over the bar in the 40th minute, and the half ended with the Quakes' precarious lead intact.

The Galaxy looked to have picked up where they left off to start the second half, with Klein's cross causing a massive scramble in the box before a Quakes defender finally hacked the ball clear.

That made it all the more shocking when San Jose doubled their advantage. A cross from Chris Leitch was knocked down by Campos towards the far post, and Johnson was first to react, stabbing his shot past Ricketts to give the Quakes a 2-0 lead.

L.A. didn't let up, and pulled within a goal in the 65th minute. A Magee free kick found substitute Alan Gordon in the box, and his header was then redirected by Kirovski past Cannon. It was Kirovski's first goal since scoring for Colorado against Toronto FC back on Oct. 7, 2007.

Kirovski then nearly added another three minutes later, but his flick header from a Magee corner was saved smartly by Cannon.

The Quakes continued to survive some hair-raising goalmouth incidents as the game edged towards full time, with an 83rd minute header from Berhalter that sailed just wide the best of the lot. But San Jose managed to hang and claim a vital win against their bitter rivals.

The Quakes have next weekend off before returning to action on July 3 when they take on Real Salt Lake on the road. The Galaxy play host to the Houston Dynamo next Sunday, June 28 at The Home Depot Center.

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