LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, controls the ball chases by San Jose Earthquakes forward Amahl Pellegrino during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The three-goal lead at the 60th-minute mark seemed certain to end with a comfortable Galaxy win.
However, if the previous 99 California Clásicos have taught you anything, things don’t usually come easy and the Galaxy can attest to that Sunday.
LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, center in blue, makes a save against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida, center, celebrates with teammate defender Julián Aude after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, center, celebrates with teammate forward Dejan Joveljić, left, after Paintsil converts a penalty kick past San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, left, dribbles the ball defended by San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Carlos Gruezo during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec (11) celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil converts a penalty kick for a score against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida dribbles the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig kicks the ball for a goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, celebrates after scoring a goal past San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagúndez, right, fights of San Jose Earthquakes defender Carlos Akapo during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Miguel Berry, left, moves the ball defended by San Jose Earthquakes defender Tanner Beason, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, right, controls the ball chased by San Jose Earthquakes forward Benji Kikanović, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig (10) kicks the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil recovers the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse, left, scores a goal past LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, second from right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, right, vies for the ball against San Jose Earthquakes defender Vitor Costa during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, left, chases the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney looks on prior to the start of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy starting eleven pose for a portrait prior to the start of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Soccer fans cheer during the first half of an MLS soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljić (9) brings the ball up the pitch during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil looks to pass against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, right, kicks the ball as San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd look on during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Julián Aude, right, is pushed by San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida (4) recovers the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, controls the ball chases by San Jose Earthquakes forward Amahl Pellegrino during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, right, has his jersey pulled by San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A soccer fan cheers as a flag waves behind him during the first half of an MLS soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, April 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-3. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
The Galaxy led by three goals on two occasions, then lost a man to a red card (Eric Zavaleta), saw their lead shrink to one goal and then had to defend the last 20-plus minutes with 10 men.
Finally, after eight additional minutes of stoppage time, the Galaxy (5-1-3, 18 points) exhaled with a 4-3 win in front of 23,335 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The final relief eventually came with 98:19 on the clock.
Just add it to the long list of wild meetings between the California rivals.
The win moved the Galaxy back to the top of the Western Conference and ties them with Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls on 18 points for the league lead.
“I’m glad we got out with three points in the end,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “It was a crazy one.”
That’s putting it mildly.
The Galaxy scored their first three goals within a 16-minute stretch in the first half. Gabriel Pec scored in the 14th minute, Joseph Paintsil converted a penalty kick in the 24th and Maya Yoshida knocked home a header in the 30th for a “comfortable” 3-0 lead.
San Jose, which had won just one of its first eight games, found a lifeline in the 32nd minute as Rodrigues headed home a deflected free kick to make it 3-1 heading into halftime.
Riqui Puig seemed to put the game out of reach in the 56th minute for a 4-1 lead. Two minutes later, San Jose made it 4-2 and Jeremy Ebobisse converted a penalty kick in the 72nd minute to make it 4-3.
“Each time we got up by three goals and you think OK, we’re going to lock this thing down, we gave the goal back in a couple of minutes,” Vanney said. “Of course, they’re not going to go away, so then we’re in a battle.
“It’s a game, as I said to the guys, that we’ve got to be able to lock down and shut it down and it needs to be done, which means we need to be more mature in some of our decisions throughout the course of the game, make sure we’re good and solid in our possession, that we stay connected as a group and we’re not racing ahead of ourselves and getting separated. I felt like we maybe sensed there were six goals, or seven goals or eight goals and then we lose track of trying to manage the game in an intelligent way and the goals will show up.”
The Galaxy then had to lean on survival instincts. John McCarthy made a pair of crucial saves in the 82nd and 83rd minutes. Later, San Jose had three consecutive corner kicks, which the Galaxy were able to successfully defend.
“This league has a way of sometimes reminding you that no lead is a safe lead if you don’t do all the little things right,” Vanney said. “We sub on, get a red card, a penalty and now next thing you know, you’re in a one-goal game and you’re trying to see it out.”
The meeting was the 100th all-time between the Galaxy and San Jose. The Galaxy hold a 48-33-19 advantage.
“We thought things were done for us at 4-1,” Paintsil said. “Then our mentality was to do everything possible to get the win for the fans and we stuck together as a team.”
This was the second meeting this season between the teams. The Galaxy won the first 3-1, March 2. The teams will meet again June 29 in San Jose.
“In the end, we showed good character and sacrificed for the team,” Yoshida said. “I think we started very well and we made the game easier until the third goal and then we made the game difficult.”
