MLS Playoffs: Typical SuperClasico Drama Plays Out In Draw

Strange plays, clutch goals and an electric ambiance have made the Super Clasico a strong rivalry, and the Galaxy and Chivas USA both saw fit to continue the trend in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Nov 1, 2009 9:30:39 PM

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CARSON, Calif. -- The Galaxy and Chivas USA have combined for countless unpredictable moments in the five-year rivalry.

That the first-ever playoff edition of the SuperClasico series produced even more such moments was no surprise to either side.

Normally a pair of solid defensive teams, the Galaxy and Chivas USA committed mistakes that led both sides to scratch their heads as the two teams finished the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal series with a 2-2 deadlock.

Thus, the only difference between Sunday’s Clasico and other ones was the finality the playoffs bring.

“It’s been pretty much to the tee with pretty much how they’ve gone in the past,” Chivas USA defender Carey Talley said. “It’s been a weird game up and down and whoever happens to be in the right place at the right time ends up winning the game. It’s pretty typical of a Clasico.”

Sunday’s strange moments were courtesy of defensive gaffes. The Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez had a shaky performance in the middle of the Galaxy’s defense while Chivas USA’s players played the role of Galaxy set-up men on two occasions.

“We made a few mistakes that cost us and I’m sure they would say the same,” Galaxy manager Bruce Arena said. “But it was a good match, a pretty even match and it wasn’t going to be easy for either team. That wasn’t going to be the case today and it certainly creates a heck of a second game in this playoff series.”

Clutch goals, great goalkeeping and an electric ambiance have been hallmarks of SuperClasicos from the past and Sunday’s match was no different. For one, only in such a matchup can the strange become the expected.

“It was pretty much similar to a SuperClasico where guys are going in hard and every ball is going to be a tough 50-50 ball,” Chivas USA’s Jonathan Bornstein said. “All the little things that don’t usually happen in other games came out.”

Chivas USA’s Maicon Santos started the game off on the right foot with his left foot. Just four minutes in, Santos ripped a left-footed blast from 20 yards out. Galaxy rookie Omar Gonzalez, though, allowed Santos the time and space from which to deliver the goods.

But the Galaxy only had to wait 10 minutes to get a gift goal from Chivas USA as Yamith Cuesta misplayed a clearance and sent the ball directly to Mike Magee, who did well to bury his open shot past Zach Thornton.

Late in the first half, Santos misplayed another ball and watched it fall to Landon Donovan, who poked the ball past Thornton to level the score.

“Those two goals we gave up were amateur at best,” Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic said. “I haven’t seen two goals like that in a game where we just totally pretty much put the ball in the net ourselves.”

To even things out, though, Gonzalez sent a terrible ball back to Galindo five minutes into the second half. Gonzalez sent the ball back to the middle of the box out of Sean Franklin’s reach. Donovan Ricketts could not get to the ball and Galindo slipped the ball into the back of the net.

“With Omar’s mistakes, you see that he’s young and doesn’t have that experience,” Donovan said.

Chivas USA continued to pressure the Galaxy’s goal and Donovan said the Galaxy “were lucky not to get scored on in that time.”

Afterward, Donovan and Alan Gordon combined for some danger but could not put the Galaxy ahead.

Ultimately, the match will become a one-off series, to nobody’s surprise.

“We knew the series wasn’t going to be decided (Sunday), that it’s going to be 180 minutes, maybe another 30 minutes after that and then maybe penalty kicks. Who knows?” Chivas USA manager Preki said. “Hopefully we get one of these days a bounce our way. Hopefully that will be next Sunday.”

For the Galaxy, the club’s spirits remained high.

“If you told us that we had one game next weekend to go into the conference finals,” Donovan said, “we’d take that in a heartbeat.”

Luis Bueno, Goal.com

For more coverage of the Major League Soccer Playoffs, visit Goal.com's MLS section.

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