Joseph Paintsil’s late goal leads 10-player Galaxy past rival Earthquakes

CARSON — Speaking after Saturday’s loss to the Houston Dynamo, the Galaxy’s Jakob Glesnes said the team’s late-season turnaround needed to begin Wednesday.

“We have to step it up already on Wednesday because what we have been doing all this season so far is not good enough,” the defender said. “And what we have been doing on the home field is definitely not good enough. So, we have to step it up already on Wednesday.”

Fast forward to Wednesday night and, after surviving the second half with just 10 players, the Galaxy (6-8-7, 25 points) might have kick-started that push with a hard-fought, 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in front of 15,435 at Dignity Health Sports Park in the 106th edition of the California Clasico.

The win moves the Galaxy into 10th place in the Western Conference standings, one spot behind the ninth-place Portland Timbers (27 points).

“The first half, I felt like we were very much in a rush and the attacks felt like it was all or nothing. We were going fast, but we had some interesting moments where maybe if we make a better choice, or a little better quality in a play here or there, I felt like we were getting separated a little bit too much in the first half,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “In the second half, even going down a man, it kind of clarified some things, which is you can’t really go out and press, you’ve got to stay together, which is something that I was trying to get the guys to pay attention to in the first half.”

Things were going decently for the Galaxy in the first half, until a late and reckless challenge by Lucas Sanabria resulted in his second yellow card of the night, sending him off and leaving the Galaxy to play a man short the rest of the night.

The Galaxy weathered several attacks and charges from San Jose, but it was the hosts who finally had the breakthrough. In the 79th minute, Harbor Miller fed Joseph Paintsil, who finished with a tap-in for the goal. Paintsil also scored in the first meeting between the teams, July 25.

Before that, the second half was about survival for the Galaxy, as is the case when a team is down to 10. Through that, the Galaxy found a way to keep San Jose off the scoreboard and create their own chances.

In the 77th minute, Robert Taylor made a solo run, which resulted in shot from atop the 18-yard line that was smothered by San Jose goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

The night was also the home and starting debut for Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.

Lozano, who made his Galaxy debut in Saturday’s game in Houston, made his first MLS start since Oct. 4, 2025, when he was with San Diego FC. He was credited with one shot on goal. It was from distance in the first half, which Gunn safely secured. Lozano was subbed out in the 68th minute.

“I’m impressed with Chucky, just his fitness level, having not really played, but to have sort of soccer fitness in the games,” Vanney said of Lozano. “I’ve been really impressed with his capacity to push himself through these moments and get into game action as much as he has, as fast as he has, it has been really impressive.

“I’m also impressed how quickly he’s found the rhythm of the game. A lot of guys who haven’t really played games for 10 months or whatever, the timeline has been.”

As Lozano walked back toward the bench, he was applauded by the crowd and he responded by touching the Galaxy badge on his jersey.

“It was a great experience to be playing here at home,” Lozano said through a translator. “The most important thing is the result. It (the fan support) felt great. It motivated me throughout the game. I heard them cheering me on and it made me feel really good and it motivates me to do better and continue to help the team.”

The Galaxy had stumbled out of the block since the MLS restart following the World Cup pause, winless in their five matches before Wednesday. Saturday’s loss had dropped them to 13th place in the Western Conference.

“What we have been doing so far isn’t good enough,” Glesnes said following Saturday’s defeat. “We are too good of a team. We shouldn’t think that we are better than what we are, but for me to see all the quality that we have in the room, I’m wishing that we are getting more out of it. And hopefully, we’re going to do that now over the next 14 games.”

The Galaxy have 13 regular-season games remaining as they try to secure a playoff spot.