Francisco Rodriguez and Omar Bravo each scored for Chivas de Guadalajara, as the Mexican side walked away with a 2-1 win Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the top spot in Group A in SuperLiga.
Los Angeles failed to generate any consistent possession or attack throughout the contest and was punished for it, conceding both goals in the second half. Landon Donovan scored a late consolation goal for the Galaxy, but it was too late to affect the final outcome of the match.
The opening half was a clear case of dominating possession for Chivas, without doing anything with it. The Mexican side showed their first signal of intent with a shot on goal in just the second minute, and created every scoring opportunity of the first half.
In the seventh minute Gonzalo Pineda decided to test Galaxy 'keeper Joe Cannon with a long range shot. From about 30 yards out Pineda shot from straightaway, but hit his shot right up the middle, allowing Cannon to make an easy save.
Chivas continued to dominate possession, limiting the Galaxy to very few opportunities to get forward. Despite owning the ball, service from the flanks let down Chivas every time they got forward, as cross after cross floated long and out of play.
At the half-hour mark, Chivas finally got a bit more direct with their attack as Sergio Santana went running free on the left flank. Santana dribbled into the area, cut inside of Troy Roberts and got off a shot. Roberts managed to recover in time though and stuck a boot in to deflect the attempt high and wide of the target.
Minutes later, Chivas wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead. Edgar Mejia shot from inside the area, only to see his shot saved by Cannon. The rebound bounced right to Omar Arellano, who had a gaping net in front of him. Arellano fumbled his first touch though, and missed the wide open goal.
Chivas remained the only team doing anything offensively, and again had a great chance go by the wayside in the 35th minute. Ramon Morales stepped over a free kick from 25 yards, and hit a curling effort over the wall pegged for the top corner. Only a diving save from Cannon kept the score level.
With his side struggling, Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made an uncharacteristic first-half substitution, bringing Pete Vagenas on for Alan Gordon. The move did little to change the Galaxy's fortunes over the closing moments of the half though, as Los Angeles entered the locker room with just one shot to their credit to Chivas' 11.
Los Angeles finally recorded their first shot on goal in the 51st minute. Donovan managed a left-footed effort from distance, but caused Chivas 'keeper Luis Ernesto Michel little trouble, as he scooped the ball up for an easy save.
The Chivas possession finally was rewarded in the 60th minute, as they opened the scoring from a corner kick. A short corner was played to Omar Esparza, who sent the ball into the area. Rodriguez rose up to meet the cross and knocked a header into the bottom corner.
The goal lit a bit of a fire under the Galaxy, and in the 65th minute, Los Angeles came close to equalizing. Ante Jazic laid a ball off to Vagenas, who shot from the top of the penalty area. Vagenas' shot was targeted for the lower corner, but Michel made a diving save to keep it out of the back of the net.
Los Angeles missed out on another chance to equalize in the 76th minute. Jazic crossed the ball into the area and Carlos Pavon rose up and won a free header from point-blank range, but missed high over the crossbar.
Chivas delivered the dagger blow in the 82nd minute. Morales crossed the ball in from the left flank for second-half sub Omar Bravo. The Mexican international ran onto the cross and tapped it home from close range to put the game all but out of reach for Los Angeles.
The Galaxy was given a glimmer of hope in the 89th minute when Donovan was the recipient of a poor back pass. A Chivas defender tried to chest the ball back to the 'keeper, but left it well short. Donovan beat Michel to the ball and flicked it up over his head and into the back of the net to cut the deficit in half.
But the Galaxy could never threaten for the equalizer, and as a result, fall a point behind Chivas into second place in Group A with the loss. The Galaxy close out group play against FC Dallas, who drew with Pachuca earlier in the night. Los Angeles will need at least a draw at Pizza Hut Park to have any chance of advancing to the semifinals.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
