and still get some help -- if they were to maintain their record of qualifying for the postseason in every season in league history. Chivas USA knew they could clinch a first-ever playoff berth after Real Salt Lake failed to win in Kansas City.
But before a packed house in Carson, the Galaxy went ahead after 29 minutes. Chris Albright went on a rampaging run down the right flank before sliding a ball to Alan Gordon in the area, who laid it back for Pete Vagenas, and he potted a rising shot from close range inside the near post.
The Galaxy then put the game away over the final quarter of the contest. In the 67th minute, Cobi Jones nearly slipped clean through, only to have the ball poked away just as he looked to shoot. Landon Donovan was following up and also aimed to shoot, but the ball was swept off his foot too, toward goal. Originally credited to Donovan, the goal was credited to Jones when replays showed the ball deflected off his foot just inside the left-hand post.
Then 10 minutes from full time Alan Gordon scored his fourth goal of the season, coming in to meet an Albright cross from the right flank and sending a flashing header inside the near post to finish off the rout, giving the Galaxy the edge in the season series against their in-stadium rivals for a second season.
Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made no changes to the team that he ran out for both games in Chicago, the league game at the weekend, then the U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday.
Here's Yallop's team (4-2-3-1): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright (Stefani Miglioranzi 84), Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Ante Jazic - Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas - Santino Quaranta, Cobi Jones (Quavas Kirk 74), Landon Donovan (Herculez Gomez 89) - Alan Gordon. [Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Josh Gardner, Gavin Glinton, Kyle Veris]
"I think the team performed really well tonight. We moved the ball well and finished our chances, which is something we haven't done," Yallop said. "I think we also defended well against a team that is known for its attack. Overall, it was great night for us for the position we are in."TEAM NEWS
The Galaxy started their path of necessity of taking nine points from nine games with a great start, knocking off their Home Depot Center arch-rivals.
"This is our season. If you can't bring it today, then you can't bring it period," Landon Donovan said. "Also the atmosphere, the fans and we don't want them to qualify. There is a lot at stake and I'm just proud of the way played. That's how we need to play."
Now they must knock off FC Dallas in both ends of the home-and-home series and STILL hope for two of three things to happen: Chivas USA to lose their final two games, Colorado to earn no more than two points in their, or Real Salt Lake to win no more than four points from theirs.
"We've left it a little late, but as they proved last year at this club, things can happen going down to the last game," Yallop said. "Hopefully, we can take it to the last match. It's here at home and we have a chance of making the playoffs if we get a win. We'll see what the other results are, but we know we've got to win the two games."
Said Donovan: [It's] not so realistic. But you've got to keep playing. There's definitely a possibility for us to go. As long as that's still there, we've got to play and we've got to win." Added Alan Gordon: "We've just got to do the things we can control. That's all we can focus on. If things fall our way on the other end, then that's great. But first off, we've got to do what we can do."
After going more than four months without scoring more than two goals in a game, the Galaxy exploded for as many as three goals for the second time in seven games.
"We could have scored a couple more -- against a side that doesn't give up many goals, or lose many games," said Yallop. "That was encouraging. We are capable of playing like that pretty regularly, but we haven't done that. Tonight was a good night for our guys to go and really express themselves."
Kevin Hartman tied Tony Meola for the most career shutouts in MLS history with the clean sheet. Both veteran goalkeepers now have 62 for their career; Meola has appeared in nine more matches (250 to 241).
"It really was a complete game. It's not very often that we put those together," said Hartman, who made three saves on the night. "A game like tonight helps you remember why you play soccer. It's been very hard lately. We've been playing under intense pressure for some time now."
Said Marshall: "We went our there and said 'let's win the battles at every position -- defense, midfield, and forward. I thought we did the job tonight. We got the shutout. (Chivas) had some good possession but at the same time they weren't going anywhere."
