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Barrett scores winner as Galaxy edges Chivas USA

GalaxyChivas (ISIPhotos.com)

.Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By JONATHAN VERA

CARSON, Calif. – The season's first installment of the 'SuperClasico' was billed as being a tougher match-up than it has been in recent years, and that proved to be the case on Saturday night as a Chad Barrett goal proved to be the difference in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 victory against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center.

“It was a hard earned victory for sure,” confessed Galaxy coach Bruce Arena. “We really had to battle to get three points.”

The first half was dominated by the Galaxy. It took them about 15 minutes to wake up, but it was controlled by them. However, it was in the second half that had LA scrambling to prevent and Chivas equalizer.

“In the second half we came out with the right spirit and were a bit more on the front foot, but not quite as we could have been,” said Robin Fraser.

The plays were being made, the attacks were hopeful, but the final touches were simply absent. Still Fraser somehow managed to find an optimistic aspect of the game.

“The effort in battling back and creating a few decent chances… speaks volumes of the character of this team.”

Barrett’s third goal on the season came by way of a header in the 26th minute from a David Beckham free kick.

The forward lurked around in an offside position and right before the delivery, Barrett ran back onside and jumped up to redirect the shot into net.  

“It’s not something I do regularly, but it’s something I like to mix in,” said the lone goal scorer. “Sometimes the near post, sometimes the back because I never want the defender to key in on where I’m going, I always want to keep him guessing.”

With that goal, the Englishman has tallied six assists and is currently tied for first in the MLS.

“We got players that can get on the end of the ball and I know if I put it in the right area we got a chance of scoring,” said Beckham.

The Galaxy is now 13-3-5 all-time against the Goats. The last time the Red-and-White conjured a victory was on September 13th, 2007. And though Robin Fraser thinks nothing of the down-the-hall rivalry by calling it, “fairly irrelevant,” Beckham has a different opinion.

“We feel it’s our stadium and it’s important that we win this game,” Beckham said.  

Comments

  1. He better team won. Proper respect is in order. We’ll see how the rest of the season plays out. Robin Fraser is an amazing coach. I still don’t understand how he takes out Braun so early like this.

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