each historic for different reasons -- as Chivas USA routed Real Salt Lake 4-0 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
Galindo, a Cuban defector, scored his first two MLS goals in the opening nine minutes of the match -- including a goal just 28 seconds in. Razov, meanwhile, joined RSL's Jason Kreis and D.C. United superstar Jaime Moreno as the only members of Major League Soccer's 100-goal club.
Matt Taylor added an 89th-minute goal to seal the victory. The win equaled Chivas USA's most lopsided victory, a 5-1 rout of Real Salt Lake in July 2005.
Real Salt Lake felt Galindo's blazing speed from the first minute on. Galindo took a pass from Alex Zotinca, raced inside the penalty area and saw RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando charging off his line. Rimando dived but Galindo kept the ball away from him. With three defenders floating around the six-yard box, Galindo nevertheless found a seam and slipped the ball into the back of the net for his first career MLS goal.
The goal was the sixth fastest in league history and the fastest goal since Jose Cancela scored 19 seconds into a match on June 25, 2005.
Eight minutes later, Galindo again torched Real Salt Lake's backline. Jack Stewart tried to keep pace with the speedy Cuban but Galindo tore through a Stewart tackle down the right flank. Galindo blazed a path to goal and again fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area into the back of the net.
Chivas USA kept the pressure on full throttle the rest of the half and were rewarded at the stroke of halftime. A near passing sequence saw the ball knocked by Galindo out to the left flank. Francisco Mendoza collected it and dribbled the ball down the edge of the penalty area before lobbing a cross toward Razov at the far post.
Razov out-leapt an RSL defender and knocked a header into the back of the net. As teammates tried to mob him, Razov jogged toward the team bench and leapt into the arms of goalkeeper coach Zak Abdel as the entire team - from assistant coaches and bench players to his fellow starters - swarmed Razov.
After the match, Chivas USA held a ceremony honoring Razov's accomplishment.
Razov nearly had goal number 101 early in the second half. Galindo again found space on the right flank and carried the ball toward the penalty area. Galindo slipped a pass to Sacha Kljestan who then fed Razov who stood unmarked on the left side of the penalty area. However, Razov fumbled the ball and could not re-direct it on goal.
At the halftime break, RSL coach John Ellinger brought on Andy Williams as he went to a three-man back line. But time and again over the final 45 minutes it was completely exposed by the Chivas attack.
Mendoza nearly made it a 4-0 game in the 58th minute. Amado Guevara sent a cross over RSL's backline to Mendoza, who ran down the center of the field. Mendoza tried to chip Rimando from just outside the penalty area but the ball swerved to the left and narrowly missed the goal post.
In the 75th minute, Guevara put a good effort on target that Rimando was just able to deflect over the crossbar. Then later it was Mendoza who got free in a seam in the Real defense. And again Rimando came up big, diving at full stretch to his left to tip away the curling effort.
Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher in the 76th minute after he was tackled from behind by Kljestan in midfield. Kljestan was shown a yellow card for the tackle, which left Williams writhing in pain with an apparent injury to his right leg. Williams was replaced by Atiba Harris.
Taylor replaced Galindo midway through the second half and had an opportunity with his first touch. He found the ball on the right side of the field but his cross went nowhere.
It was not until the 89th minute that Chivas again found the back of the net. After a couple of shots were knocked down by defenders but not cleared, Taylor hammered another shot on goal with Rimando well off his line. Eddie Pope, though, cleared the ball of the line but Taylor pounced on the rebound and slammed the shot into the back of the net.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
