In what has been a frustrating start thus far for the Los Angeles Galaxy, the result seemed fitting.
The Galaxy couldn't capitalize on a 26-minute man advantage -- then lost their advantage and played with man down for the final 11 minutes of the game. Fortunately, the Galaxy salvaged a 0-0 tie against Chivas USA in the first SuperClàsico of the year on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
LA still finds itself looking for its first win of the season, now with two draws and a loss on the season, while Chivas USA is still unbeaten on the season, now with a draw to go with three victories.
The Galaxy seemed poised for a victory when Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura was ejected after receiving his second yellow in the 45th minute. But LA squandered its advantage in the 71st minute after forward Alan Gordon received his second yellow card in a three-minute span to even the playing field. Things took a turn for the worse when defender Gregg Berhalter was issued a straight red in the 79th minute, forcing the Galaxy to finish the game with a 10-9 disadvantage.
Altogether, nine yellows and one red were distributed between the two archrivals by referee Tim Weyland.
It didn't appear the game would turn out as it did. The opening third of the first half got off to a slow start, although a verbal confrontation at midfield between Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and Nagamura signaled a change was brewing.
Not long after, Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts -- starting in place of Josh Saunders -- felt the heat from Chivas USA's attack. In the 17th minute, Chivas forward Eduardo Lillingston broke the Galaxy's back line for a one-on-one confrontation with Ricketts, who blocked his shot. In a mad dash for the deflected ball LA defender Omar Gonzalez knocked it out of the box with a sliding clearance, beating Atiba Harris to the spot.
Chivas USA kept the pressure on LA the very next minute, when Nagamura blasted a shot from 20 yards out that was blocked by Ricketts, who had three solid saves in the first half.
The Galaxy finally got their first shot off in the 21st minute. Sean Franklin, last year's MLS rookie of the year who started as the right midfielder Saturday, sent a grounded cross into the box from deep in the right corner. Donovan was there to tap it in, but Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton prevented the goal.
From that point, the intensity and physicality between the two bitter rivals picked up dramatically. Seven yellow cards were issued in the first half (five to Chivas USA, two to the Galaxy 2), six of them coming in the final 20 minutes. Nagamura was ejected after committing his second foul against Donovan, giving the Galaxy a man advantage heading into the second half.
LA thought it got on the board in the 52nd minute. Donovan hooked the ball over two defenders and into the box. Gordon was there to punch it into the net, but he was offside, negating the score.
Gordon was issued a yellow in the 68th minute, and then was sent off three minutes later by referee Weyland, putting the numbers back to even.
But Berhalter changed the dynamics of the game again after being issued a straight red card in the 79th minute for dragging down Chivas USA's Alecko Eskandarian. If not for the foul, Eskandarian would have been in one-on-one against Ricketts.
Chivas USA had two opportunities in stoppage time to score, but Ricketts made both saves, the second on a low drive from Sacha Kljestan.
Simon Jude Samano is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
