What started on Aug. 23 is now becoming a trend as Chivas USA picked up their second consecutive victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Ante Razov scored the game's only goal in the first half as Chivas USA won 3-0 and claimed the season series over their Home Depot Center rivals for the first time. Francisco Mendoza and Laurent Merlin added goals over the final few minutes to put the game away.
Chivas USA finished the season 2-1-1 against the Galaxy. Before their 3-0 win two weeks ago, Chivas USA had lost eight games over two-plus seasons but the tables have turned in the Red-and-White's favor.
In addition, with the victory, Chivas USA moved into first place in the Western Conference, the first time the team has ever been in first place later than the first couple of weeks of the season. Chivas lead Houston Dynamo by one point, and have two games in hand over the defending MLS Cup champions. Both teams play on Sunday, Chivas traveling to Colorado and Houston facing the Galaxy in Carson.
For the Galaxy, every loss puts any chance of reaching the postseason that much farther away. They are still 12 points out of the final playoff spot, now with just nine games remaining on the season.
The game was a bit physical in the beginning. Jesse Marsch picked up a yellow card three minutes in after throwing a ball at Peter Vagenas after the Galaxy midfielder fouled him. Marsch will now sit out Sunday's match because of yellow card accumulation.
Mendoza was the first to test Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon but his shot from the corner of the penalty area sailed straight into Cannon's arms.
Chivas USA survived a Galaxy flurry on the quarter hour. Carlos Pavon fanned on a shot from 15 yards. Alan Gordon wound up with the ball and tried a side volley but placed it into the Legion 1908 cheering section instead.
Galindo tested Cannon from 22 yards out as he turned and fired after a feed from Kljestan but Cannon was in a good position to make the save.
Kljestan and Galindo again connected for a dangerous play. Galindo fed Kljestan a ball near the top of the penalty area and Kljestan slipped it right back to his feet. Galindo darted through the Galaxy's defense and ripped a shot on goal. Cannon, though, turned the shot away with his chest.
Razov finally broke through for the Red-and-White in the 23rd minute. Lawson Vaughn sent a long ball deep from the Chivas end to Razov, who found himself alone with Galaxy defender Abel Xavier. Razov held the ball with his right foot and dribbled slowly down the right side of the box.
Instead of turning to his more dependable left foot, Razov caught Xavier off balance and ripped a shot with his right foot on goal. The ball hit Cannon but the contact was not enough to stop the trajectory as the ball bounced off the left post and over the goal line. The goal was Razov's ninth of the season and fourth goal against the Galaxy as a member of Chivas USA.
Chivas USA continued to dictate terms after the goal and did not give away much possession. Still, the club failed to get into the penalty area and did not have any immediate dangerous attempts.
In fact, it was the Galaxy who tested the goalkeeper next. Landon Donovan collected a ball inside the penalty area and walked in on Guzan from the left side of the area. Donovan tried to chip Guzan but his attempt had little behind it and was cleared away before it got close to the goal line. Chivas USA countered quickly, though, and Razov wound up with the ball on the left side of the box. He ripped a 20-yard shot that whistled the far post.
At halftime, Chivas USA coach Preki took out Claudio Suarez in favor of Jason Hernandez.
Kljestan and Galindo again worked their stuff and nearly got a second goal. Kljestan took control of a loose ball and carried it into the penalty area. He fed Galindo but the Cuban striker whiffed on a shot attempt from 12 yards out.
Chivas USA nearly picked up the second goal in the 55th minute. Galindo rattled a shot from point-blank range off the crossbar. The rebound fell to a crowd of players and eventually Vaughn found himself with the ball from 10 yards out but pushed a shot wide of an open goal.
Xavier was booked in the 69th minute after a hard challenge on Galindo. No foul was called as the ball carried on to Razov and advantage was given. Razov crossed the ball to Kljestan who put a header on goal that forced Cannon to make a diving save.
Preki took Galindo and Razov out in the final quarter hour. John Cunliffe replaced Galindo in the 80th minute while Laurent Merlin went in for Razov two minutes later.
Mendoza scored in the 88th minute when he ripped a shot past Cannon from 12 yards out. Set free on the left flank with a pass from the center circle by Kljestan, he was able to dribble unmolested into the box before firing low past Cannon inside the back post.
Merlin provided the final margin after a awful giveaway. The ball went from a Galaxy defender right to Merlin in the left side of the area, and he knocked a quick, low shot off the base of the left post and into the back of the net.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
