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Galaxy outmuscles Chivas USA to win the Superclasico

EdsonBuddle (ISIphotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

 By ADAM SERRANO

Chivas USA may have brought a different team and a new outlook to this year's clásico, but the result was still the same, a Galaxy victory.

With a dominant performance in the center of the field, the LA Galaxy were able to outmuscle Chivas USA for a 2-0 victory. The result brought the Galaxy's unbeaten streak against their in-stadium rivals to nine games in all competitions.

The Rojiblancos clearly showed improvement from their disjointed performance against Colorado, but were unable to create significant chances going forward against a physical Galaxy midfield.  Chivas' play makers Osael Romero and Sacha Kljestan were repeatedly forced off the ball leading to opportunities for the Galaxy on the counter attack.

"We won this game in the midfield, we were able to break their plays and disrupt their style of play," said Galaxy defensive midfielder Dema Kovalenko. "They really couldn't do anything and were barely able to generate a chance."

Focal to the Galaxy's effort's in midfield was the play of Landon Donovan, who displayed each aspect of his game, a sharp contrast to his lackluster play against New England. The Galaxy captain was everywhere on the field, showing his defensive skills by forcing Chivas USA attackers to turn the ball over on numerous occasions. Donovan shined brightest through his ability to orchestrate the Galaxy's attack and assists on both Edson Buddle goals.

"Our competitiveness tonight was very good, whether you play well on the night doesn't really matter and I just feel like we out competed them and that's why we won," said Donovan.

Although the physicality kept Chivas from creating a considerable amount of chances, Chivas USA did maintain a considerable possession. However, much of this possession was kept in their own defensive end as the club struggled to find the way to crack the Galaxy's stingy defense. Chivas maintained their game plan of creating through the center of the field, but were unable to generate consistent offense due to the punishing play of Los Angeles. The Rojiblancos finally appeared to threaten late as the additions of Maicon Santos and Jesus Padilla energized the offense, but poor finishing prevented the equalizer.

"We were trying to create and I thought that LA was a very strong and physical team," said Head Coach Martin Vasquez. "They have that bite in the center of the field with Kovalenko and Birchall and they were able to clearly out muscle us tonight."

While Chivas struggled to convert their chances, the Galaxy were able to capitalize on their own opportunties, with each of the club's two shots on goal ending up in the back of Dan Kennedy's net. The man responsible for those goals is the rapidly maturing Edson Buddle. The striker has been a revelation in the Galaxy's first two games, scoring all three Galaxy goals. The 28 year old has improved dramatically from the forward that missed a considerable amount of time last season due to injury. Buddle's success stems from the cohesion that the Galaxy have had for the past year under head coach Bruce Arena.

"It's a combination of the team being familiar with each other's tendencies on the field," said Buddle. "If I'm able to continue to be in front of the ball then I'll be able to finish off the chances."

Although it may be early in the season, it's worth noting that the Galaxy now have their second victory in two games, a feat which took them 12 games to reach last season. On the opposite end, Chivas USA are now off to their worst start since their inaugural season in 2005.

Comments

  1. ELAC, there you are! I wondered if you were reading my own and individual thoughts that I’ve been directing at you.

    I still think that Vergara should contact Cal State Fullerton and take that 5,000 seat stadium there, work together with that university like what happened at CSUDH and have your own 30,000 seat stadium. (Even though I’m a Fullerton alum I’ll forgive them for working with the goats to make their site home to your boys.) There is plenty of room for that expansion on a solid foundation. Spacious parking and easy in and out access to the 57 freeway.

    Come on ELAC, how can you be satisfied playing in someone elses yard? Its the American Dream to own your own. I know you didn’t like sharing when you were a kid so why do you accept it now? Call your boy in Guadalajara and make it happen. I have faith in you ELAC, total and complete faith.

    Just because you lack judgement in your choice of teams I’m pretty sure you have the wherewithall to do the next best thing.

    Yup, I’ll be there in October at the top of the table and a rehabbed Beckham in tow. Maybe even a world cup title for our REAL boys in Red, White, and Blue… Hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream does it?

    How’s that for original ELAC? Can you handle all that or should I draw some pictures for you?

    Reply
  2. Rub it in Friday.
    Once again, props to the Galaxy for bringing the intensity.
    2nd class citizens, Dan the Blue?
    Don’t you have anything more original?
    I guess AEG has to spoon feed you words and rhetoric.
    Enjoy the Kool-aid.
    See you in October?

    Reply
  3. There’s nothing “super” about it anymore, except maybe Sacha Kljestan, but he’s more Super!!!! anyway… but it’s becoming a boring “rivalry”.

    Chivas are to Galaxy what Espanyol is to Barcelona.

    I think the record is now 13 wins, 6 draws, 3 flukes.

    No competition.

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  4. until they get their own stadium they will constantly be 2nd class citizens in a stadium they are NOT welcome in. There’s only ONE team in LA. THE GALAXY and that beat down last night was gorgeous.

    Arriba Galaxy.

    Reply
  5. Yeah, but what REALLY cheeses me off is people bitching about the people bitching about the people bitching about the people bitching about wait what were we talking about????

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  6. Chivas misses Jesse Marsch. He was the backbone and tough guy of that team, and without him they are lacking any kind of toughness in the midfield. Until Chivas addresses that huge hole, they will constantly get outmuscled.

    Reply
  7. that should have been a straight red!!!

    absolutely horrible foul, it made myrie’s look tame when he took down the seattle player.

    Reply
  8. Highlight of the doubleheader (for me) had to be the Espindola (sic) mugging by the corner flag at the end of the RSL v Houston match. If there ever was grounds for suspension, that was it.

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  9. I’ve had it with people bitching about people bitching about refs. The fact is that the referee’s have a huge impact on the game. And bitching will ensue

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  10. The amount of bitching about refs by MLS fans has reached epic proportions. It seems like every game some fan has to come on this board, or other ones, and start pointing fingers at the ref.

    People complain that some players are “divers” — but I’ll take that over a bunch of fans who are whiners any day.

    Reply
  11. As an RSL fan, last night’s defeat was a very bitter pill to swallow. We played better than Houston but lost on one, if not two, terrible calls. Still, what was Olave thinking by sliding tackling in that circumstance. Not a smart move even if the call wasn’t made.

    Reply
  12. That is about how I saw it as well. The first was little contact on a ball that was unreachable. The second was minimal contact and a dive. If the ref is going to call both of those penalties, then he has to give a penalty when Beckerman was taken down in the box late in the match.

    Reply
  13. i didn’t agree with the first houston penalty but i thought the second was a penalty, and yes, i am also aware that landin helped out in selling it to the ref.

    Reply
  14. In other news, Houston was gifted two penalties in their 2-1 win over RSL. Why no coverage on the other game last night?

    (SBI-We had someone in LA, didn’t have someone in Houston.)

    Reply

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