but only as far as Donovan, standing on the edge of the area. He settled and drove a low shot inside the left-hand post past an unsighted Guzan.
• In stoppage time, a Santino Quaranta chip found Kyle Martino, and he headed the ball on to the back post, where Donovan came in seemingly certain to once again give the Galaxy a win against their in-stadium rivals. But Guzan quickly came off his line to block the effort with his legs. Chivas USA has won just one of the 10 league meetings between the teams; Guzan's stop secured just the second draw.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made two changes from the team that lost 3-2 to the New England Revolution the previous Saturday. Cobi Jones made his first start in three games, coming for Nathan Sturgis as Peter Vagenas moved into a deeper role, and Nate Jaqua came in up top in place of Robbie Findley.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-2-3-1): Joe Cannon - Chris Albright (Nathan Sturgis 15), Ty Harden, Tyrone Marshall, Ante Jazic - Kevin Harmse, Peter Vagenas - Cobi Jones (Robbie Findley 63), Landon Donovan, Kyle Martino - Nate Jaqua (Santino Quaranta 81). Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Mike Randolph, Ian Russell, Kyle Veris
• "I thought we defended better. We limited their chances. In our last home game we conceded three goals. We talked this week about not conceding goals at the wrong times. What happens is you get in the mode of making sure that doesn't happen," Yallop said. "It's a fine line. I thought we played probably the best we've played going forward against New England, but we conceded three goals. I'm pulling my hair out right now."
TEAM NEWS
• Unlike past editions of the Super Clasico, the matinee on Victoria Street wasn't quite played at the same fever pitch.
• "Both teams hate each other, so the first 20 minutes of this game was about as intense as there is. You kind of run yourself ragged in the immediate stages of the game," said veteran midfielder Pete Vagenas. "You're not really trying to pace yourself in this game. Both teams want to come out and throw the first punches and get on top early. We left ourselves a little bit empty in the tank."
• Neither team really dominated possession and both sides had late chances to nab a game winner and steal the three points. But a different scoreline would not have been indicative of the way the game played itself out.
• "I thought (the result) was fair given the situation we were in. I think the first half, we didn't play our best half. They got a goal and it was like 'here we go again,'" said Tyrone Marshall. "But we stuck in. We came in at halftime and had a good talk. I thought we did good in the second half. We came out from the get-go, which we haven't been doing as of late. We fought for the result today and I think it was a justified result."
• But there was a real injury concern in the 15th minute when Chris Albright went down. Nathan Sturgis came into the team at right back.
• "When he landed, his leg was kind of straight and it put a big strain on his hamstring and he felt a huge pop in there," Yallop said. "That's not great when that happens. We won't know until ... we get an MRI test done, but it's obviously not good. Chris is a pretty durable guy, and he doesn't really get injured that much. It's a little worrying."
• Donovan has been involved in every single goal the Galaxy have scored this season - seven in league play (two goals, five assists) and four in the U.S. Open Cup (one goal, three assists).
• "Landon is a player who can really turn games," Yallop said. "Although he maybe didn't play as well as he can play, he's still the one that could have won us the game in the first half, and at the end could have won us the game, too. Landon has a knack for getting in situations that make a difference."
• On Wednesday night, the Galaxy played Rangers FC in an international friendly at The Home Depot Center, falling 1-0. Kris Boyd scored the game's only goal, turning home an Alan Hutton cross from close range 10 minutes into the second half.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop started a team of mainly reserves, bringing on his first-liners in the second half. Here's Yallop's team: Steve Cronin; Mike Randolph (Kyle Martino 63); Ante Jazic; Kevin Harmse (Josh Tudela 85); Ian Russell (Peter Vagenas 70); Cobi Jones (Nate Jaqua 70); Tyrone Marshall (Ty Harden 62); Kyle Veris; Robbie Findley (Landon Donovan 46); Nathan Sturgis; Santino Quaranta
• "Obviously it was an entertaining game from the perspective of the fans. I'm not happy about not winning the game but I think if you think about the lineup we had and the way we played at times, we came into the game late with most of our senior guys on the field," said Yallop. These games, obviously we try to win them. But we are protecting and making sure we're ready for next weekend."
