For the seventh time in the short history of the Super Clasico, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA met in the regular season. But for the first time ever, the two sides shared the points, playing to a scoreless draw Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Despite the lack of goals, both 'keepers -- and the goalposts -- were kept busy throughout the contest. In the first half, Chivas USA netminder Preston Burpo was forced off his line several times to intercept balls played over the top to the Galaxy's speedy forwards, Landon Donovan and Herculez Gomez. On the other end, Kevin Hartman was forced into a smattering of saves and also had the woodwork to thank for keeping Chivas off the board.
Just 90 seconds into the game the Galaxy nearly took the lead. After a turnover in midfield, Josh Gardner sprung Donovan loose. Donovan ran right past Claudio Suarez and dribbled in alone on Burpo. With Suarez bearing down on him from behind, Donovan uncharacteristically lost control of the ball at the last instant and had to watch the ball roll right to Burpo as his appeals for a penalty were denied.
The scoring chances tilted in favor of Chivas through the middle stages of the half. In the seventh minute Francisco Palencia took a Juan Pablo Garcia pass and dribbled into the penalty area. Palencia took an off-balance shot from inside the area that sailed high over the crossbar.
Ten minutes later Garcia stripped Nathan Sturgis of the ball in the defensive third, took a couple of touches, and then tried to chip Hartman. The shot beat the keeper, but hit the back post. Hartman quickly pounced on the rebound to end the threat.
Rookie Sacha Kljestan started the next thrust for the Goats. He knifed a clever through ball to Ante Razov, who ran the ball down at the end line and with his first touch crossed the ball into the middle. Palencia slid in to try and deflect the ball into the net, but Hartman was well positioned and made the save.
In the 27th minute Palencia was at it again, this time down the right flank. The former Mexican international beat Tyrone Marshall and dribbled into the penalty area. From a sharp angle Palencia tried to beat Hartman with a low shot to the back post, but instead fired wide of the target.
Despite enjoying the run of play Chivas was nearly caught napping moments after Palencia's miss. Paulo Nagamura streaked down the right side of the field and played a low rolling cross along the top edge of the six-yard box that was intended for Donovan. The cross was just barely out of reach for Donovan, and a close call in front of Burpo's net harmlessly turned into a goal kick.
In the 27th minute Palencia tried to play the role of provider, crossing the ball into the Galaxy penalty area. Francisco Mendoza was all alone in the box, but didn't get very much power on his header. His shot deflected off a Galaxy defender and bounced softly into the arms of Hartman.
The last good chance of the half came on a free kick for Chivas. Marshall elbowed Tim Regan in the side of the head, earning himself a yellow card and Chivas a free kick from 30 yards out. Both Razov and Garcia stood over the ball, with Garcia taking the shot. His effort was less than impressive however, going well over the crossbar.
The Galaxy got an early start to the second half as well. In the 48th minute, Donovan dribbled through the middle of the Chivas defense. Donovan put Quavas Kirk through on the right side. As he was cutting the ball back to the middle Kirk managed to round Burpo, but Jesse Marsch was tracking back and cleared the ball out for a corner kick before Kirk could tuck the ball away into the empty net.
Just as quickly as the Galaxy got things started, Chivas wrestled back control of the match. In the 55th minute Kljestan flew down the left side and ripped a shot from just inside the penalty area. The shot again beat Hartman, but once again the post made the save, denying the rookie midfielder a goal.
Garcia forced another save out of Hartman in the 64th minute. He ran down a bouncing ball and unleashed a dipping angled volley from 18 yards out. The shot was headed for the far corner if not for Hartman's diving save.
In the 72nd minute Gardner and Donovan hooked up with a little one-two in midfield that sent Gardner loose. Gardner's first touch got away from him though, and by the time he tracked the ball down, he could only manage to play the ball across into a tight space. Gomez still managed to run onto the ball, but his sliding shot clanged off the outside of the post, leaving the teams with nothing but a point to show for their night.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
