LA Galaxy players share their most memorable California Clasico games

In a league with many budding rivalries, the Califoia Clasico against San Jose is in a class of its own for Galaxy forward Alan Gordon.

“These two teams, especially the fan bases, they hate each other,” he said. “It’s very intense. We take it very seriously as players and as a whole organization.”

The series between the two Califoia rivals features many memorable games. Here are just a few that stick out in the minds of the Galaxy players as they prepare for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. Clasico kickoff.

Mike Magee: June 25, 2011, Galaxy 0, San Jose 0

Mike Magee eaed the nickname “Mr. November” for his clutch playoff performances with the Galaxy, but perhaps Magee was most magical on a summer afteoon in San Jose between the goal posts.

A comedy of goalkeeping errors unfolded for L.A. in the first half when starter Donovan Ricketts suffered a broken arm in the 24th minute and backup Josh Saunders was ejected in the 43rd. So Saunders peeled off his black goalkeeper shirt and passed it to the 5-foot-10 Magee, who had exactly zero goalkeeping experience before volunteering himself for the job.

“In my eyes, I wanted to play goalie once in my life,” Magee said this week of the game. “I thought I was going to play until halftime and (coach) Bruce (Arena) would have some master plan at halftime.”

He said he received no halftime coaching for his new post. Apparently he didn’t need it. Magee, who honed his hand-eye coordination as a youth baseball player, “blacked out” and got three saves in 48 minutes to preserve the most unlikely of shutouts. The Galaxy won the MLS Cup that season, the first of two for Magee.

L.A. is currently down a goalkeeper as Dan Kennedy is out with a partially to groin that he suffered in the season opener, but Magee assured his career in goal is done.

“That’s one of those things you want to do once and then never again,” he said.

A.J. DeLaGarza and Gordon: June 29, 2013, San Jose 3, Galaxy 2

Gordon’s favorite Califoia Clasico memory is A.J. DeLaGarza’s least favorite.

In an epic game, San Jose came back from a man down and a two-goal deficit to snatch three points from the Galaxy at Stanford Stadium. The Earthquakes scored twice in stoppage time, with Gordon heading in the game-winner in the 94th minute after DeLaGarza got crossed over by Marvin Chavez, fell down and chased the ball to the other side of the field before getting scored on.

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“There was a roach on the ground and I tripped over the roach,” DeLaGarza said.

DeLaGarza hasn’t escaped the snafu. It pops up on Instagram almost daily and he’s always tagged in it. Gordon insists they laugh about it now.

Gordon was an integral part of San Jose’s 2012 Supporters’ Shield-winning season, a fan favorite in San Jose who seemed to always score the necessary stoppage time goal. Now that he’s wearing the Galaxy’s blue and gold, the forward only speaks of his favorite game in hushed tones.

“I know there were a lot of hard feelings for what I did on the other side of this rivalry,” Gordon said. “I want to give back to the (Galaxy) fans.”

Gordon’s least favorite: Nov. 7, 2012, Galaxy 3, San Jose 1

Gordon never won an MLS Cup in San Jose and it was the Galaxy who ended his best chance in 2012.

The Earthquakes won the Supporters’ Shield that season and beat L.A. four times, including a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Weste Conference semifinals at Home Depot Center. Then the Galaxy overtook San Jose’s then-impenetrable fortress at Buck Shaw Stadium in the second leg. Robbie Keane and Magee combined for three first-half goals to bounce the Earthquakes from the playoffs. It was San Jose’s first loss at Buck Shaw Stadium in more than a year, and less than a month later, the Galaxy hoisted the MLS Cup.

“They hurt us really bad,” Gordon said. “Each side has been hurt by the other side, so it’s just about the next game.”

Saturday’s game

Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., StubHub Center

TV/Radio: TWCS, TWCD/LAGalaxy.com, ESPN Deportes

Records: Galaxy 1-1, San Jose 2-0