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 Saturday. “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, one spot behind the ninth-place Portland Timbers (27 points).
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.
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.
As Lozano walked back toward the bench, he was applauded by the crowd and he responded by touching the Galaxy badge on his jersey.
The Galaxy have stumbled out of the block since the MLS restart following the World Cup pause, winless in their five matches before Wednesday.
“What we have been doing so far isn’t good enough,” Glesnes said following Saturday’s loss to Houston. “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.