CARSON, Calif. - After getting pummeled six consecutive times by the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA finally landed a punch against its formidable rivals in a 2-1 win on June 8. Now, Chivas is looking for a knockout blow.
In what is likely the most meaningful Super Clasico match to date, Chivas hosts the Galaxy on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. With a 6-6-5 record, Chivas enters the game in fourth place in the Western Conference table. At 5-10-3, the Galaxy is five points behind Chivas for the final playoff spot.
A Galaxy win would cut the distance between the clubs to two points. Victory for the Red-and-White, meanwhile, and the Galaxy might be tasting canvas.
"It's the most important game of the season," Chivas USA striker Francisco Palencia said. "They've won three in a row and we just have one point in the last two weeks. It's really important to beat them so we can keep a big gap between them and us."
Chivas lost in its first six attempts to beat the Galaxy, including a heart-wrenching 2-1 loss on April 15 when the Galaxy scored two goals in the final seven minutes. Last time around, Ante Razov scored a pair of goals and Chivas' airtight defense maintained a one-goal lead in the second half.
But now the Galaxy is entering the match in much better form. The Galaxy has won their last three games and is 3-2-2 under coach Frank Yallop, who debuted against Chivas.
"You see a team that has been harder to play against," Chivas coach Bob Bradley said. "When you put a streak together where you are able to win a few games, it doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the players believe in what's going on and they understand what needs to get done on the field. We are not naïve. We know the kind of game we'll be in on Saturday."
Galaxy superstar Landon Donovan will be back in the mix. On June 8, Donovan was in Germany preparing for the World Cup. Now, he's gearing up for the Super Clasico. Donovan has long been a difference maker. It was Donovan who set up both of the Galaxy's goals on April 15 and Donovan has keyed the Galaxy's current winning streak.
Still, Chivas players said they are not concerned about who plays against them and who is absent.
"That doesn't make a difference," Chivas striker Ante Razov said. "It's going to be a hard game. It's going to be our most important game of the year. We failed a test this past weekend - completely failed from top to bottom - and didn't match the other team so we got what we deserved."
Palencia said it's most important for Chivas players to worry about themselves.
"We take care of our team. We don't worry about the other teams," he said. "We don't pay attention. We think that they have really good players but the most important thing is Chivas USA for us: playing well, raise the bar, to have a good mentality to play against any other team."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
