Massive SuperClásico on tap following tie
Hard-fought first leg leaves series unresolved another week
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That's what the bitter rivals get for playing to a 2-2 tie at The Home Depot Center. The teams meet again there next Sunday, with the winner advancing to the conference final.
"It certainly creates a heckuva second game in the playoff series," Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said.
Sunday's game was an intense affair in which Chivas took the lead just four minutes into the game, fell behind 2-1 by halftime and tied it five minutes into the second half. Sunday's game featured the expected skirmishes between players but also shaky play that left coaches shaking their heads on more than one occasion.
"I guess it was a fun game for the spectators," Chivas USA head coach Preki said. "Not so much for the coaches."
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Chivas USA, who had not beaten the Galaxy in three regular-season meetings in 2009 and trailed 10-3-5 in the all-time series between the clubs, took the lead in the fourth minute on a brilliant play by Maicon Santos, who later had a hand in the Galaxy's go-ahead goal. Santos found himself one on one with Galaxy rookie defender Omar Gonzalez and let fly with a left-footed shot from 20 yards that beat Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts just inside the goal post.
There are those who may have faulted Gonzalez for his coverage on the play, but Arena took exception to that.
"You have to give Santos credit," Arena said. "It was an excellent finish. Maybe Omar could have done a little better, maybe Donovan as well, but you've got to give their striker some credit."
The Galaxy needed just 10 minutes to tie it. The play started inside Chivas' side of the field with Dema Kovalenko lofting a pass to Landon Donovan, who in turn headed a pass deep into the penalty area to Mike Magee. The seven-year veteran took possession and beat Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton to tie it at 1-1.
It was Magee's first goal since Aug. 19 against Chicago.
"Don't mention that," he said with a laugh when told how long it had been since he scored. "I needed it ... the team needed it. Down 1-0, to get a goal at that moment, I'm happy with it."
The Galaxy took the lead in the 41st minute on a questionable decision by Santos who, while attempting to clear the ball, instead sent it into a group of players right in front of the net. One of them was Donovan, who outfought Carey Talley for the ball and barely nudged it in for the goal.
Some might have thought Donovan hit it with his hand while getting possession, but he said that wasn't the case.
"Me?" Donovan said when he was asked if he had contact with the ball. "Not that I remember. If anything, I thought it hit Talley's hand. It was pinballing around ... very weird.
"I just tried to get a toe on it."
Preki found Santos' decision difficult to understand.
"He tried to be cute," Preki said. "But he's young and hopefully he learns. He's done a terrific job since he's come here and hopefully that won't affect him."
The Galaxy hopes Gonzalez isn't affected by his own costly decision that led to Chivas' tying goal in the 50th minute. Gonzalez was challenged for possession on the wing when he sent an ill-advised back pass toward Ricketts. But second-half Chivas substitute Maykel Galindo raced in to steal the ball and beat Ricketts for a stunning goal.
Galaxy defender Sean Franklin said he didn't even know Galindo was there and attributed the play to miscommunication. He also said he was partly to blame.
"We talked about it," Franklin said. "I should have let Omar know there was pressure."
Each team had excellent scoring opportunities throughout the remainder of the second half. Ricketts was forced to make a diving save on Paulo Nagamura in the 57th minute and Donovan and Alan Gordon misplayed what looked to be a certain chance for a goal 18 minutes later. Gordon, instead of passing back to a wide-open Donovan as he headed toward the net on a mini-breakaway, took a 15-yard shot Thornton stopped easily.
Donovan let Gordon know he was not happy with his ill-advised decision.
Both coaches called the result fair, but there also was some disappointment.
"Yes and no," Franklin said. "No because we didn't lose the game. Yes because we didn't play as well as we could have. But we'll work on some things and get it right for the second game."
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
