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LA, Chivas Draw in the Classic SuperClasico
A pulsating match at the Home Depot Center ended with a 1-1 draw between Los Angeles's two sides.
Jul 11, 2008 2:19:02 AM
Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 1 Chivas USA
The last time these two hooked up for the SuperClasico, Los Angeles ran roughshod over their crosstown rivals, winning 5-2. This time around, the goals didn’t flow, and the teams ended up sharing the points.
Both teams entered the match tied for first in the Western Conference, so there were more than bragging rights on the line. If there was any doubt about the Los Angeles derby being the best rivalry in MLS, it is surely crushed now. The game enthralled with scintillating, entertaining play from the opening minute.
First Half
Neither team mounted much organized attack until the 15th minute, when Sacha Kljestan dribbled down the left side and cut into the middle, freezing the L.A. defense. A little toe-flick pass left the ball for Ante Razov, who curled a left-footed shot from 22 yards into the upper left corner. The goal was his third in three games.
Ely Allen nearly got L.A. level in the 26th minute after receiving a pinpoint pass from Chris Klein and running in alone on goal. The rookie’s nerve abandoned him at the pivotal moment, and his shot was stopped by an onrushing Brad Guzan, the Chivas keeper.
In the 28th minute, Razov came close again, this time on a freekick from 25 yards. Francisco Mendoza was brought down just outside the D by Galaxy defender Ante Jazic. Razov, who scored a late winner from a similar distance just last week against San Jose, swerved a shot over the wall, but goalkeeper Steve Cronin got across to make the save.
A training-field injury to usual centerback Sean Franklin meant L.A. was forced to start a makeshift backline. Things got worse for head coach Ruud Gullit when Canada international Ante Jazic was stretchered off in the 34th minute clutching his hip. He was replaced by Joe Franchino.
After the change, the Galaxy started to gain traction in the midfield. Just before the break, Chris Klein came within inches of leveling things. Waiting on the far post on a corner kick, Klein had space and time to bring the ball down in the area. But his 15-yard shot could only find the right post, and the chance was gone.
Second Half
Los Angeles emerged from the locker room determined to draw even quickly. Edson Buddle, largely quiet in the first stanza, fizzed an 18-yard shot from the right side just wide in the 50th minute.
In the 58th minute, Gullit gambled, inserting Carlos Ruiz for Franchino, the player brought on in place of the injured Jazic. Miutes later, L.A. nearly converted a quick freekick from Beckham, but Klein was unable to control the ball to get a shot off.
Ten minutes later, Guzan showed why Premier League club Aston Villa are anxious to buy him in the next few weeks. He dove bravely for a cross just before Landon Donovan could slide in and redirect it on the frame.
But Guzan was beaten in the 72nd minute by Buddle. The L.A. striker’s clever run behind the defense was picked out by midfielder Peter Vagenas, and from an acute angle Buddle slotted the equalizer through Guzan’s legs. The goal was Buddle’s 11th on the season, tying him with Donovan for the league lead.
Minutes later, Chivas coach Preki was ejected for arguing with the fourth official.
Things became even more heated in the 78th minute, when Chivas had a goal called back. Kljestan chipped a clever ball to Mendoza in the center, and the curly-haired Mexican shoveled it into the Galaxy net. But the assistant referee correctly determined the ball had crossed the endline before Kljestan served his cross.
With five minutes to go, Beckham lined up a freekick from 25 yards after Ruiz was bundled over. But instead of going for goal, as he normally does, the English international floated the ball into the center, and Chivas was able to head clear.
The Goats nearly stole all the points in the 88th minute. Jonathon Bornstein bent a long cross from the left side, and Kljestan met it at the far post. Although Cronin was beaten, Kljestan’s powerful header could only find the right post.
In stoppage time, Ruiz had a golden chance win it for the home side. Donovan, largely held in check all night, waltzed 40 yards into the Chivas end. He squared the ball to Ruiz, but despite a clear look at goal, the Guatemalan striker was unable to beat Guzan, and the game ended knotted at one.
The draw means they remain tied, although L.A. has the tiebreaker on head-to-head results.
-- Goal.com
The last time these two hooked up for the SuperClasico, Los Angeles ran roughshod over their crosstown rivals, winning 5-2. This time around, the goals didn’t flow, and the teams ended up sharing the points.
Both teams entered the match tied for first in the Western Conference, so there were more than bragging rights on the line. If there was any doubt about the Los Angeles derby being the best rivalry in MLS, it is surely crushed now. The game enthralled with scintillating, entertaining play from the opening minute.
First Half
Neither team mounted much organized attack until the 15th minute, when Sacha Kljestan dribbled down the left side and cut into the middle, freezing the L.A. defense. A little toe-flick pass left the ball for Ante Razov, who curled a left-footed shot from 22 yards into the upper left corner. The goal was his third in three games.
Ely Allen nearly got L.A. level in the 26th minute after receiving a pinpoint pass from Chris Klein and running in alone on goal. The rookie’s nerve abandoned him at the pivotal moment, and his shot was stopped by an onrushing Brad Guzan, the Chivas keeper.
In the 28th minute, Razov came close again, this time on a freekick from 25 yards. Francisco Mendoza was brought down just outside the D by Galaxy defender Ante Jazic. Razov, who scored a late winner from a similar distance just last week against San Jose, swerved a shot over the wall, but goalkeeper Steve Cronin got across to make the save.
A training-field injury to usual centerback Sean Franklin meant L.A. was forced to start a makeshift backline. Things got worse for head coach Ruud Gullit when Canada international Ante Jazic was stretchered off in the 34th minute clutching his hip. He was replaced by Joe Franchino.
After the change, the Galaxy started to gain traction in the midfield. Just before the break, Chris Klein came within inches of leveling things. Waiting on the far post on a corner kick, Klein had space and time to bring the ball down in the area. But his 15-yard shot could only find the right post, and the chance was gone.
Second Half
Los Angeles emerged from the locker room determined to draw even quickly. Edson Buddle, largely quiet in the first stanza, fizzed an 18-yard shot from the right side just wide in the 50th minute.
In the 58th minute, Gullit gambled, inserting Carlos Ruiz for Franchino, the player brought on in place of the injured Jazic. Miutes later, L.A. nearly converted a quick freekick from Beckham, but Klein was unable to control the ball to get a shot off.
Ten minutes later, Guzan showed why Premier League club Aston Villa are anxious to buy him in the next few weeks. He dove bravely for a cross just before Landon Donovan could slide in and redirect it on the frame.
But Guzan was beaten in the 72nd minute by Buddle. The L.A. striker’s clever run behind the defense was picked out by midfielder Peter Vagenas, and from an acute angle Buddle slotted the equalizer through Guzan’s legs. The goal was Buddle’s 11th on the season, tying him with Donovan for the league lead.
Minutes later, Chivas coach Preki was ejected for arguing with the fourth official.
Things became even more heated in the 78th minute, when Chivas had a goal called back. Kljestan chipped a clever ball to Mendoza in the center, and the curly-haired Mexican shoveled it into the Galaxy net. But the assistant referee correctly determined the ball had crossed the endline before Kljestan served his cross.
With five minutes to go, Beckham lined up a freekick from 25 yards after Ruiz was bundled over. But instead of going for goal, as he normally does, the English international floated the ball into the center, and Chivas was able to head clear.
The Goats nearly stole all the points in the 88th minute. Jonathon Bornstein bent a long cross from the left side, and Kljestan met it at the far post. Although Cronin was beaten, Kljestan’s powerful header could only find the right post.
In stoppage time, Ruiz had a golden chance win it for the home side. Donovan, largely held in check all night, waltzed 40 yards into the Chivas end. He squared the ball to Ruiz, but despite a clear look at goal, the Guatemalan striker was unable to beat Guzan, and the game ended knotted at one.
The draw means they remain tied, although L.A. has the tiebreaker on head-to-head results.
-- Goal.com
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