For the second consecutive meeting with Chivas USA, the LA Galaxy dropped a 3-0 decision. The loss secured the Super Clasico title for Chivas USA for the first time and ushered in a shift in the balance of power in Los Angeles. Ante Razov, Francisco Mendoza and Laurent Merlin each scored for Chivas USA.
While the loss denied the Galaxy one more chance to get a piece of hardware on the season, by holding onto the trophy awarded to the winner of the season series, and allowed Chivas USA to get the better of the in-stadium rivalry, the result also had larger implications for the future. The Galaxy are still 12 points out of the last playoff spot, now with just nine games to play, and every result puts their postseason hopes farther away.
It took less than three minutes for things to get chippy. Jesse Marsch took exception to a rather innocent foul in midfield and threw the ball at Pete Vagenas. Vagenas immediately got in Marsch's face and shoved him back. Referee Alex Prus intervened, showing Marsch yellow, and that set the tone for the match.
The Galaxy controlled the possession and moved the ball well through the midfield early on, but they lacked creativity in the final third. Meanwhile the Galaxy back four was well organized in the opening 20 minutes, limiting Chivas USA to a couple of long-range shots that were easily saved by Joe Cannon.
The Galaxy created a pair of good scoring chances in quick succession in the 15th minute. The first originated off a counter attack. Chivas managed to slow things down, but Kyle Martino shook loose of a pair of defenders and crossed the ball along the ground to the penalty spot. Carlos Pavon ran onto the ball but swung and missed on his attempt.
Then the Chivas defense failed to clear the ball well enough and Chris Klein sent the ball back into the mixer. Pavon rose up at the edge of the 18 and sent a deft little header to Alan Gordon. Gordon attempted a first time volley, but was leaning too far back and sent his shot sailing over the crossbar.
At the 20-minute mark the Chivas attack started to come to life. Maykel Galindo received a pass some 30 yards from goal, turned and dribbled through a Mike Randolph tackle and outran Vagenas in the area. From close range Galindo fired, but Cannon made himself big and blocked the shot.
Three minutes later Razov opened the scoring. Lawson Vaughn found Razov with a long ball over the top of the defense. Razov beat Abel Xavier off the dribble in the right side of the area and took his chance from the same angle as Galindo's shot. Cannon got a piece of the shot, but not enough, as the ball deflected off him, then the back post and into the back of the net.
The Galaxy tried to respond and created a pair of chances after the half-hour mark. The first came on a corner kick when Landon Donovan sent the ball into the penalty area where Xavier had worked himself free of his marker. Xavier attempted a side volley, but missed high over the crossbar.
Next up was Donovan, who had a half chance to tie the game. The U.S. international pounced onto a loose ball in the area and tried to flick it past a hard charging Brad Guzan. Chivas had three defenders well positioned behind their 'keeper though, and Donovan's soft shot was easily cleared from danger.
Chivas managed a couple more shots as the first half wore down, but none that had the accuracy or power to really trouble Cannon. As the half ran out it looked as though Chivas would be able to shut things down over the final 45.
The Galaxy came out of the locker room pressing forward in search on an equalizer, while Chivas USA sat back and waited for their moments to counter attack. It was a strategy that started to favor Chivas, as they were finding holes in the Galaxy defense early in the second half.
Counter attacking soccer quickly turned into constant pressure, and a sequence off a corner kick in the 56th minute nearly led to a second Chivas goal. The ball bounced around in the area before Galindo unleashed a powerful shot that rang off the post. The Galaxy scrambled to try and clear the ball and Cannon got caught out of position when the ball bounced to Vaughn. The defender tried to shoot into the empty net, but missed wide of the target.
It was the Galaxy who broke on a counter attack in the 64th minute. Donovan streaked up the middle of the field and laid off a pass for Martino who was charging down the left flank. Martino tried to go low to the back post with his shot attempt, but missed wide of the target.
Cannon kept the Galaxy within one in the 68th minute. Galindo played a cross to the back post where Sacha Kljestan had a free header. The young U.S. international drove a header towards the back post but Cannon made a diving save to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
The Galaxy continued to press for the equalizer and in the 77th minute Donovan set up second half substitute Gavin Glinton with brilliant chance. Donovan took a long pass out of the midfield and with a cheeky heel flick knocked the ball into the path of Glinton. The Galaxy forward took a touch and shot on goal, but right into the arms of Guzan.
The game took a bit of a bizarre twist in the 79th minute when members of Legion 1908 threw a number of smoking flares onto the field. As a thin cloud of smoke enveloped the field, the referee called a brief halt to the game.
After the quick break the Galaxy were forced to push numbers forward. They managed to win a few free kicks and corners, but failed to get anyone on the end of crosses.
As a result, the Galaxy were burned on a counter attack for the game's second goal, when in the 89th minute Kljestan slipped Mendoza in behind the Galaxy back line. Mendoza dribbled in to the left side of the area and fired a low shot between the arm and body of Cannon.
In stoppage time Chivas added a third. Troy Roberts tried to clear a ball out of danger but hit it right to Laurent Merlin. Merlin, who had initially been on trial with the Galaxy at the beginning of the season, took the ball and hit side netting with a powerful shot.
For the Galaxy the loss meant the first time that they relinquished the Super Clasico title. It also put Los Angeles one step closer to being eliminated from the playoffs, and things don't get any easier for the Galaxy as they play Houston in four days at The Home Depot Center.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
