With a goal and two assists from Landon Donovan, the Los Angeles Galaxy blitzed Chivas USA early on their way to a 3-1 victory in the first Super Clasico of 2007 on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Donovan became the 11th player in MLS history to reach 50 goals and 50 assists in his career, scoring his first and setting up one as the Galaxy hit for two goals in the opening 17 minutes. Kevin Harmse scored his first MLS goal, which proved to be the game winner, and Cobi Jones added a late insurance goal, answering the lone Chivas USA goal from Claudio Suarez.
The Galaxy dominated possession right out of the gate, completely controlling the game for the opening 10 minutes. Chivas USA barely made it out of their half in that time frame, and in the eighth minute, the early pressure paid off for Los Angeles, the home side on the night.
Kyle Martino sent a cross into the area from the left flank. As Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan came off his line to collect the ball, Suarez stepped in front to head it clear. The mix-up proved to be deadly as Suarez nodded the ball right into the path of Donovan, who made no mistake with a gaping net in front of him.
The early goal seemed to wake up the Chivas attack, which put together a flurry of chances in front of the Galaxy goal just minutes later. It started with a bouncing ball in the Galaxy penalty area, which Alex Zotinca tracked down at the back post and fired from point-blank range. But Ante Jazic was there to deflect the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick.
Chivas played a short corner on the ensuing free kick, and worked the ball to the top of the penalty area where Amado Guevara was waiting. The Honduras international blasted a wicked shot to the near post, forcing a Joe Cannon to punch the ball wide for another corner.
That corner kick was sent into the area where it found the head of Zotinca. Zotinca got off a powerful header earmarked for the back of the net but for yet another save from Cannon.
But the Galaxy raced back to the other end, and the second goal was soon to follow. Harmse, making his first MLS start, worked a clever one-two with Donovan. Harmse's speed and Donovan's perfectly weighted pass allowed the Canadian international to slip in behind the Chivas defense, and in alone on Guzan, Harmse tucked a low shot in at the near post to double the Galaxy advantage.
The Galaxy continued to press, and nearly got a third goal in the 22nd minute. Chris Albright worked his way forward from his right back spot to join the attack. Albright sent a ball in along the turf to the penalty spot where rookie Robbie Findley met the cross, but slipped as he shot the ball, sending his effort straight at Guzan.
Chivas USA's last good chance of the half came a few minutes later. Harmse found himself defending inside his own 18 and had a clearing attempt broken up. The ball wound up on the foot of Jonathan Bornstein, whose shot from 20 years skipped just past the upright.
Los Angeles came out of the dressing room with the two-goal lead, but weren't looking to pack it in and defend. The second half opened up with both sides going end-to-end.
In the 53rd minute Maykel Galindo was the beneficiary of an advantage call, and he got off a shot from the top of the restraining arc. Galindo got plenty of power on his effort, forcing a diving save from Cannon. Galindo got to his own rebound but could manage only a weak follow-up effort that Cannon easily collected.
Chivas pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute. From a corner kick, the ball pinged around the area where Francisco Mendoza headed the ball across the goalmouth to Razov, who banged a header off the upright. Los Angeles failed to clear, and Suarez made up for his earlier blunder, tucking the ball into the side netting after Jesse Marsch fired it goalward.
Los Angeles tried to respond quickly, and Donovan won a free kick on the right flank. He then curled in a dangerous ball to the edge of the six that handcuffed the Chivas defense. Nate Jaqua pounced on the loose ball for the Galaxy, but his shot from was deflected out for a corner.
Chivas nearly equalized in the 74th minute. Razov picked out substitute Laurent Merlin with a ball over the Galaxy back line and the Frenchman hit a first time volley, but his shot went straight into the arms of Cannon.
Four minutes later the Galaxy would retake their two-goal lead from a quick counterattack. Albright jarred the ball loose in midfield, and Donovan picked up the loose ball and it was off to the races. He hurdled a tackle by Lawson Vaughn, then picked out a streaking Jones with a nice through pass along the ground. Jones took a touch then buried a shot past Guzan.
Jones tried to repay the favor moments later on another counterattack. This time Jones was the recipient of a great pass over the top of the Chivas defense, and raced in on goal. He peeked up and saw Donovan making a run to the near post, but the cross was just a bit too close to Guzan who plucked the ball out of the air.
That sealed the win for the Galaxy, who couldn't have picked a better opponent against whom to end their scoring drought. The Galaxy have now defeated their in-stadium rivals eight times in 10 games in all competitions.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
