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Chivas USA and LA Galaxy Slump To 0-0 Draw
Even attendance sagged as a mere 23,317 watched Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy share three red cards but zero goals.
Apr 12, 2009 1:37:13 AM
CARSON, Calif.--Derbies are notoriously impossible to predict. Heading into the first SuperClasico of the 2009 season, Chivas USA had the better record of the season, having won all three of its games, but the Los Angeles Galaxy had yet to lose the first SuperClasico of the season in the rivalry's four year existence.
That record continued, as the teams drew 0-0 in a rough and scrappy game that saw nine yellow cards and three reds. Referee Tim Weyland had difficulty controlling the squads from the opening, and the feisty nature of the game never let any attacking flow take root.
Chivas USA once again started with only 18 players fit, just enough to fill out a substitute bench. Galaxy had a makeshift lineup of its own, starting Sean Franklin in midfield, and Stefani Miglioranzi replaced the suspended Dema Kovalenko. However, the team welcomed Donovan Ricketts in between the sticks for the first time since the Jamaican arrived in the offseason.
First Half
Chivas USA put its stamp on the game early on, with patient buildup, as the Galaxy looked a bit disjointed. The first real chance fell to Chivas from more direct play, however. Eduardo Lillingston chased down a long ball and smashed a long shot off Donovan Ricketts. Atiba Harris followed up, only to have his shot pushed wide as well. From the resulting corner, which was played short, Harris found Paulo Nagamura in the box, but his blasted shot was pushed over by Ricketts.
Galaxy responded by forcing a save out of Zach Thornton on the other end. Sean Franklin did well to whip in a low cross down the right, and Landon Donovan beat his man to get off a clever flick on goal. However, a sprawling Thornton pushed it away and then smothered the ball before it could trickle out.
From there the game disintegrated into a scrappy mess. As SuperClasicos tend to do, tackles flew in high and late, and referee Tim Weyland resorted to yellows to try to calm down proceedings. Neither team was in full gear in a high-tension match.
Towards the end of the half, a corner fell to Jesse Marsch, but the Chivas captain couldn't beat Ricketts from four yards out. He made amends two minutes later after Alan Gordon hit a hard shot from atop the box which Thornton spilled. Marsch nipped in to clear before Gordon could reach the rebound.
On the stroke of halftime, the game saw its first red. Nagamura harshly slid into the back of Donovan to draw his second yellow.
Second Half
Minutes into the half, LA had the ball in the back of the net. Donovan shimmied past marker Shavar Thomas on top of the box and floated a gorgeous cross to the opposite end of the goal. Gordon bundled it home, but the goal was called back as being offsides.
The game continued in its scrappy nature. Neither side found a rhythm, but the referee continued his steady reach into his pockets for cards. The next player to be sent off was Alan Gordon, who received two yellows in the space of three minutes. The second came after a lengthy discussion between the referee and his fourth official, and the teams were even.
However, a few minutes later, Galaxy was down a man. Substitute Alecko Eskandarian broke through the high defensive line and Gregg Berhalter dragged him down by the shirt. Since he was the last man, Berhalter saw a straight red on him MLS debut.
Chivas pushed forward in search of a winner, but it wouldn't come. Ricketts' debut was a much more productive one than Berhalter's, as he pushed aside everything thrown at him.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
That record continued, as the teams drew 0-0 in a rough and scrappy game that saw nine yellow cards and three reds. Referee Tim Weyland had difficulty controlling the squads from the opening, and the feisty nature of the game never let any attacking flow take root.
Chivas USA once again started with only 18 players fit, just enough to fill out a substitute bench. Galaxy had a makeshift lineup of its own, starting Sean Franklin in midfield, and Stefani Miglioranzi replaced the suspended Dema Kovalenko. However, the team welcomed Donovan Ricketts in between the sticks for the first time since the Jamaican arrived in the offseason.
First Half
Chivas USA put its stamp on the game early on, with patient buildup, as the Galaxy looked a bit disjointed. The first real chance fell to Chivas from more direct play, however. Eduardo Lillingston chased down a long ball and smashed a long shot off Donovan Ricketts. Atiba Harris followed up, only to have his shot pushed wide as well. From the resulting corner, which was played short, Harris found Paulo Nagamura in the box, but his blasted shot was pushed over by Ricketts.
Galaxy responded by forcing a save out of Zach Thornton on the other end. Sean Franklin did well to whip in a low cross down the right, and Landon Donovan beat his man to get off a clever flick on goal. However, a sprawling Thornton pushed it away and then smothered the ball before it could trickle out.
From there the game disintegrated into a scrappy mess. As SuperClasicos tend to do, tackles flew in high and late, and referee Tim Weyland resorted to yellows to try to calm down proceedings. Neither team was in full gear in a high-tension match.
Towards the end of the half, a corner fell to Jesse Marsch, but the Chivas captain couldn't beat Ricketts from four yards out. He made amends two minutes later after Alan Gordon hit a hard shot from atop the box which Thornton spilled. Marsch nipped in to clear before Gordon could reach the rebound.
On the stroke of halftime, the game saw its first red. Nagamura harshly slid into the back of Donovan to draw his second yellow.
Second Half
Minutes into the half, LA had the ball in the back of the net. Donovan shimmied past marker Shavar Thomas on top of the box and floated a gorgeous cross to the opposite end of the goal. Gordon bundled it home, but the goal was called back as being offsides.
The game continued in its scrappy nature. Neither side found a rhythm, but the referee continued his steady reach into his pockets for cards. The next player to be sent off was Alan Gordon, who received two yellows in the space of three minutes. The second came after a lengthy discussion between the referee and his fourth official, and the teams were even.
However, a few minutes later, Galaxy was down a man. Substitute Alecko Eskandarian broke through the high defensive line and Gregg Berhalter dragged him down by the shirt. Since he was the last man, Berhalter saw a straight red on him MLS debut.
Chivas pushed forward in search of a winner, but it wouldn't come. Ricketts' debut was a much more productive one than Berhalter's, as he pushed aside everything thrown at him.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
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