If the rivalry between the Earthquakes and the Galaxy has softened in recent years, after Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium, you can believe it’s been renewed, revived and rekindled.
The Galaxy lost both goalkeepers in the first half: one to injury after a collision and the back-up to a straight red card.
Starting Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was on the wrong side of a collision with Khari Stephenson and is reportedly out with a broken left arm.
Earthquakes’ Steven Lenhart was accidentally thumbed in the face by back-up Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders as he hovered around the goalkeeper after he'd made save. Lenhart was yellow carded. Saunders a straight red card.
Bizarre, strange and exciting soccer: where even the coaches, in walking off the field at halftime, were involved in minor altercations and skirmishes, with each other and players.
26-year old Mike Magee took over in goal for the Galaxy.
The Earthquakes couldn’t take advantage of the second half man advantage and ended regulation scoreless.
The nil-nil final ended the Galaxy’s 10-game winning streak.
But with the man advantage, it had to feel like a loss for the Earthquakes in not being able to get ball past "third string" goalkeeper Mike Magee.
Regardless of the score, it was a delightful day for the record sellout crowd at Buck Shaw Stadium Saturday afternoon.
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