Los Angeles Galaxy draws with Chivas USA 2-2 – Recap and Video Highlights – Sunday, November 1, 2009
The only rival or derby match in the first round of the Major League Soccer Playoffs kicked off on Sunday as the LA Galaxy played Chivas USA. Both teams play at the Home Depot Center and are in based in Los Angeles. Who won the match? Here’s a recap along with video highlights of the match.
Los Angeles Galaxy draws with Chivas USA 2-2 – Video Highlights
1st Half
The match started out with chances for both teams but Chivas USA would strike first. Maicon Santos received a pass from Sacha Kljestan and scored on a great low shot to the right corner. It was a quick counter from Chivas after the Galaxy turned it over in midfield. Chivas were sharper in the first ten minutes as the goal gave them confidence and the Galaxy were still settling into the match.
The Galaxy worked their way back into the match and would tie it up in the 15th minute. Donovan headed a ball into the box where the Chivas USA defense failed to clear. The ball deflected to Magee who took a touch and scored on a shot to the left corner. It was poor defending from Chivas USA. The Galaxy started to take the minute and were much more dangerous in the first half.
Donovan and Beckham helped control the midfield for Galaxy as they had most of the possession in the first half. After the early goals from both sides the play slowed down as it became more defensive. Neither team had many great chances in the next 10-15 minutes.
Another Chivas USA defensive mistake would lead to the Galaxy taking a lead. In the 41st minute the Galaxy had a corner that Chivas has trouble clearing. It finally went out of the box and to Santos who did not hit it well as it lobbed back into the penalty box of Chivas. Donovan was in perfect position and flicked it past the goalkeeper from point blank range to make it 2-1.
The first half would end at 2-1 for the Los Angeles Galaxy as Chivas USA made two defensive mistakes. Some credit should go to the Galaxy who were better in the midfield and put consistent pressure on the Chivas defense.
2nd Half
The second half started with Chivas coming out much more aggressive and the Galaxy playing very defensive. Chivas almost scored as Galindo had a shot but it was deflected out of play for a corner. The Galaxy were giving too much time and space to Chivas as their intensity had dropped from the first half.
Chivas would tie it up in the 50th minute as Galindo would not miss another chance. It was a poor back pass from the Galaxy defense that was intercepted by Galindo. Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts came out to get the pass as well but couldn’t get there first and Galindo easily dribbled around him and score with an open net.
Again, the Galaxy appeared asleep and struggled to hold possession as Chivas continued to get chances. The Galaxy had no real scoring chances through the first 10-15 minutes of the second half. Ricketts made a big save in the 61st minute as Santos had a shot off a cross that tested the Galaxy goalkeeper. Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena decided to make a change as Magee was taken out and Eddie Lewis subbed in around the 62nd minute.
The Galaxy slowly started to get chances but Chivas remained the better team through the first 20 or so minutes of the second half. Arena made another change as Buddle was taken out for Alan Gordon. The Galaxy should have taken the lead back in the 75th minute as they had a breakaway and Gordon passed to Donovan who was unmarked at the edge of the box. Donovan’s shot was right at Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton.
With about 10-15 minutes left, the momentum was back with the Galaxy. It was a physical match between two rival clubs. Despite having a lot of the possession late in the match, the Galaxy struggled to convert this into great scoring chances. The match remained tied at 2-2 heading into stoppage time (there would be four minutes).
In stoppage time, Chivas USA had a chance on a counter as Kljestan stole the ball from Beckham. Galindo ended up with a chance in the box but the Galaxy defense recovered just in time. Neither team had any more chances in stoppage time as it ended in a 2-2 tie. Overall, it was a match full of mistakes for both teams and neither team playing particular well.
The second leg will be next Sunday with whoever wins that match advancing.
| The Home Depot Center | ||
| Galaxy
2
|
90:00
Full Time |
Chivas USA
2
|
| Scoring: | ||
| CHV — Maicon Santos 1 (Sacha Kljestan 1) 4 | ||
| LA — Mike Magee 1 (unassisted) 14 | ||
| LA — Landon Donovan 1 (unassisted) 41 | ||
| CHV — Maykel Galindo 1 (unassisted) 50 | ||
| Discipline: | ||
| LA — Chris Birchall (caution; Reckless Tackle) 27 | ||
| CHV — Marcelo Saragosa (caution; Reckless Foul) 81 | ||
| MATCH STATS | ||
| Chivas USA | Los Angeles | |
| Shots (on Goal) | 4(4) | 8(3) |
| Fouls | 2 | 5 |
| Corner Kicks | 5 | 3 |
| Offsides | 2 | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 1 | 2 |
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