Landon Donovan continued his blistering goal-scoring pace, hitting for a hat trick and picking up an assist, and Alan Gordon scored two more as a second-half substitute as the Los Angeles Galaxy showed who was boss of The Home Depot Center -- at least for one night -- in a resounding 5-2 victory against Chivas USA in the first SuperClasico of the season.
In front of a sellout crowd, the Home Depot Center rivals played a supremely entertaining match, with two Donovan goals answered by Chivas strikes from Sacha Kljestan and Ante Razov until the Galaxy raced away with three more goals over the final half-hour.
The game instantly got off to a frenetic pace, as the emotions of the rivalry were obviously driving the play on the field. It was the Galaxy that controlled most of the early possession, although the match was very back and forth over the first quarter hour.
In just the fourth minute, the Galaxy produced their first shot on goal. David Beckham played an early cross to the top of the penalty area where Edson Buddle managed to win a header. The header lacked the pace required though, and Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan made an easy save.
Four minutes later, Galaxy fans were upset to see a Donovan goal immediately called back. Donovan outraced Guzan to a ball played over the top of the Chivas backline, but as he jumped past Guzan, he clearly played the ball with his hand to gain the advantage. Unfortunately for Donovan, he's not an Argentinean named Maradona or Messi and referee Jair Marrufo showed Donovan a yellow card for his efforts.
Donovan got his revenge in the 18th minute however, when he opened the scoring for LA. Beckham swung in a free kick and after a couple of failed chances to clear the ball outside the area, it eventually fell to Donovan, who took a quick touch then volleyed home from 20 yards out.
The goal didn't slow things down, as both teams continued to play at an incredible pace, but the scoring chances started to wane. The next chance came in the 35th minute when Donovan dribbled past Shavar Thomas, who fell on the play, then found Mike Randolph with a perfectly weighted through pass. Randolph did everything right, hitting the ball first-time and keeping it on frame, but Guzan was equal to the task, making the save.
Two minutes later, Chivas were level. The goal was déjà vu all over again, as Sacha Kljestan nearly replicated his goal from two weeks ago against Columbus. Kljestan beat Abel Xavier off the dribble, then from just inside the 18, bent a perfect shot that started outside of the post then curled back into the top corner, leaving Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin with absolutely no chance.
The pace didn't slow down after the break. Just two minutes in, Beckham had a rare bad touch, turning the ball over deep in the Galaxy defensive third. Chivas pounced on the opportunity and Maykel Galindo fed Francisco Mendoza on the left side. The diminutive left midfielder fired a shot past Cronin, but it clanged off the upright.
Donovan gave LA the lead back in the 59th minute. Randolph once again got in behind the defense on the left side and played a ball towards the penalty spot for Donovan. Claudio Suarez tried to clear, but Donovan stuck with the play and eventually fired past Guzan from the heart of the area.
The goal rejuvenated the crowd, which in turn rejuvenated the game. The Galaxy continued to pour forward and create chances. First, a Randolph pass found Donovan, but he fanned on a first-time effort when there was time to take a touch. Moments later, Beckham had a free kick opportunity from about 30 yards out that he bent over the wall, but not enough to dip under the bar.
The missed chances proved costly as Chivas equalized in the 62nd minute. A low cross from the right corner bounced off a Galaxy defender right to Ante Razov, and with players strewn about out of position he blasted a shot into the empty net, leveling the game at 2-2.
Chivas continued to attack and in the 67th, Razov nearly doubled his tally. Razov won a header off of a Mendoza cross, but from just seven yards out, sailed his effort over the bar.
Looking for fresh legs, Ruud Gullit brought on Gordon for Buddle, and the move paid dividends almost immediately. In the 76th minute, Donovan crossed the ball into the area. Lawson Vaughn misplayed his clearance attempt, lofting the ball straight into the air. Gordon outjumped Guzan to the ball, looping his header home for the go-ahead goal.
A minute later the Galaxy doubled their advantage. Gordon brought down a long ball out of midfield, held off a defender, then fed Donovan at the top of the area. Donovan finished off his hat trick with a low shot past Guzan for his league-leading eighth goal of the season.
By now the blue-and-yellow side of Carson was in full song, but the Galaxy weren't yet done, adding another in the 84th minute. Donovan came racing up the center of the park, feeding Beckham wide on the right. Beckman played the ball back to Donovan at the top of the area and he shot toward the back post where Gordon ran onto the ball, tucking home a shot from close range.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
