CARSON, Calif. — Landon Donovan scored two goals, Robbie Keane added a third, and David Beckham notched two assists as the surging LA Galaxy outclassed SuperClasico rival Chivas USA for a 3-1 on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
The Galaxy (9-10-3) claimed their sixth victory in nine games since MLS' minibreak ended in mid-June to pull seven points clear of Chivas (6-8-5) in the race for the Western Conference's fifth playoff spot.
Keane scored from Beckham's through ball in the 14th minute and Donovan tallied from feeds by the Irishman in the 46th and 78th minutes. Beckham's three-game goalscoring streak came to an end, but he picked up two assists, his eighth and ninth of the year.
Former Galaxy midfielder Paolo Cardozo netted his first MLS goal in the 52nd minute for Chivas, which suffered just their second loss in 10 league games.
Full Highlights: LA 3, CHV 1
LA were without left back Todd Dunivant, who exited Wednesday's victory at Vancouver with a calf strain, and midfielder Mike Magee, who missed his fourth straight game.
Chivas, meanwhile, had to do without the services of holding midfielders Osvaldo Minda, who dislocated his shoulder in training last weekend, and Peter Vagenas, who suffered a hamstring strain in Wednesday's victory over Portland. Juan Agudelo, nearly over a knee injury, sat out for the fourth straight game.
The Galaxy had the better of play in a testy first half. Keane, who has scored nine goals this season and has five in the past four games, put LA in front in the 14th minute when he ran onto a through ball from Beckham and slotted past Chivas 'keeper Dan Kennedy.
The Ireland international nearly had his third two-goal game in as many weeks just six minutes later. In a play similar to his first goal, Keane took a through ball from Donovan, rounded Kennedy, and then deposited the ball into the net only to see the offisde flag cancel out his strike.
The teams went into the break still 1-0 in LA's favor, but just three minutes into the second half, Donovan took a pass from Keane, sped past the Chivas defense and then fired past Kennedy for the 2-0 lead.
Chivas answered back soon after. In the 52nd minute, Cardozo punished his former team when he rifled a shot from the top of the box and past LA 'keeper Josh Saunders.
But whatever life that goal gave Chivas, Donovan & Co. attempted to take out. The US international rang the uprights in the 62nd and 76th minutes, and Keane rung the crossbar in a spectacular volley attempt in the 75th minute before Donovan finally added the insurance tally from a goalmouth scramble after corner kick in 78th minute.
OPTA CHALKBOARD: Galaxy win the duels
Chivas, who have a league-worst 13 goals this year, struggled to create chances after Cardozo's goal, but they had a clear chance in stoppage time when second-half sub Juan Pablo Ángel wasn't able to fully connect on a low crossand sent the ball rolling wide from close range.
The Galaxy next play Tottenham in a friendly on Tuesday night at The Home Depot Center. Their next league game will take place against FC Dallas on July 28 (8 pm ET, NBC Sports Network).
Chivas, meanwhile, will travel to face the Portland Timbers next Saturday (11 pm ET, MLS Live).
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
Rank |
Player |
What We Saw |
1 |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/landon-donovan"><span style="font-size:12px;">Landon Donovan</span></a> |
Two goals and two shots off the post. The Galaxy attacker was a menace. |
2 |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-keane"><span style="font-size:12px;">Robbie Keane</span></a> |
LA hitman was dangerous; found the net once, had a goal waved off, and hit the post on another. |
3 |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/david-beckham"><span style="font-size:12px;">David Beckham</span></a> |
Wasn't front-and-center for LA, but the midfielder was key in two of the three goals. |
