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LA Claim SuperClasico On Beckham Goal
A David Beckham half volley that kissed the post on the way in separated the two Los Angeles-based clubs in the Honda SuperClasico as the LA Galaxy won 1-0 over Chivas USA.
Aug 30, 2009 2:07:04 AM
CARSON, Calif.--On a day when his loan team, AC Milan, fell hard against their city
rivals, David Beckham earned true redemption in the eyes of Galaxy
fans by marking the winning goal in the Los Angeles derby match versus Chivas USA, securing a 1-0 result.
The passion of the derby match between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy was as high as ever, even if the play, especially in the first half, was ragged on both sides. Chivas USA may have been weary from their midweek game, but the Galaxy had no excuse.
First Half
The stands were crowded for the derby match as the game kicked off. At stake in the last meeting of the year between the two sides was not only the SuperClasico trophy, but also the playoffs, as the teams were only separated by two points in the Western Conference standings.
Though the Galaxy were missing some key attacking players, namely Edson Buddle and Alecko Eskandarian, Chivas USA's backline was positively makeshift. In goal for an injured Zach Thornton was Lance Parker, while Marcelo Saragosa was filling in at the rightback spot.
However, with the recent new additions to the Chivas USA attack, namely Maicon Santos and Jesus Padilla, the Goats were looking more potent moving forward.
Indeed, Chivas USA had both the better of possession and attacking play in the early going. Padilla especially was playing aggressively, bumping Galaxy defender Todd Dunivent to the ground in the 25th minute as the two tussled for the ball.
The Galaxy couldn't seem to find the recent good form they had had, lacking linking play and failing to put much pressure on Parker.
Emblematic of their lack of threatening play, a free kick from Beckham in the 27th minute failed to clear the wall.
Two minutes later, the Galaxy were lucky not to give up a goal as Donovan Ricketts came out of the box but failed to clear the ball. Jesse Marsch was there and tried to get a shot off, but Beckham was able to help Ricketts recover and boot the ball to safety.
A pair of outside shots by Kljestan and then Bornstein failed to find their target, but a late attack in the half by Galindo nearly broke open the scoring. The speedy forward beat Omar Gonzalez to the ball, but couldn't put the shot past Ricketts, who made a nice save.
Though the half ended scoreless, Chivas USA had to be encouraged by their play as the "visiting" team.
Second Half
Bruce Arena may well have given his players a good yell in the locker room, because the Galaxy came out looking far more energized in the second half - immediately putting pressure they hadn't been able to muster before on the Chivas USA defense. Still, Preki's players did well to hold their shape and deny the efforts of their stadium brothers.
In the 52nd minute, however, a neat little pass by Beckham found Eddie Lewis on a run into the box. As Parker came out to close him down, Lewis passed to Donovan for a shot on the open goal, but Donovan couldn't quite reach the ball before it rolled out.
A counterattack by Padilla put Galindo in a footrace in the box with Gonzalez, who barely won out to save a sure shot on goal.
A handball by Saragosa in the 71st minute led to a Beckham free kick, but, again, it came to nothing as it looked like the defense would hold out and the match finish scoreless.
However, Beckham made sure that didn't happen. A deep throw by Dunivant in the 80th minute was cleared to the English midfielder, who took a first-time shot, taking the time not to power the ball, but to place it well and true past Parker in the net. Beckham celebrated with his teammates as an adoring crowd forgave all past transgressions - since he had scored the winning goal against their bitter rivals.
The final minutes of the game were a testy affair, but the result was virtually sealed when Galindo was red-carded for an elbow against Gregg Berhalter in the 83rd minute.
Beckham nearly added an assist to his goal in injury time, as he worked a nice backheel pass to a breaking Donovan, but Parker made the one-on-one save.
For the second year in a row, the Galaxy claimed the SuperClassico trophy, and perhaps more importantly, moved three points closer to the playoffs.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
The passion of the derby match between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy was as high as ever, even if the play, especially in the first half, was ragged on both sides. Chivas USA may have been weary from their midweek game, but the Galaxy had no excuse.
First Half
The stands were crowded for the derby match as the game kicked off. At stake in the last meeting of the year between the two sides was not only the SuperClasico trophy, but also the playoffs, as the teams were only separated by two points in the Western Conference standings.
Though the Galaxy were missing some key attacking players, namely Edson Buddle and Alecko Eskandarian, Chivas USA's backline was positively makeshift. In goal for an injured Zach Thornton was Lance Parker, while Marcelo Saragosa was filling in at the rightback spot.
However, with the recent new additions to the Chivas USA attack, namely Maicon Santos and Jesus Padilla, the Goats were looking more potent moving forward.
Indeed, Chivas USA had both the better of possession and attacking play in the early going. Padilla especially was playing aggressively, bumping Galaxy defender Todd Dunivent to the ground in the 25th minute as the two tussled for the ball.
The Galaxy couldn't seem to find the recent good form they had had, lacking linking play and failing to put much pressure on Parker.
Emblematic of their lack of threatening play, a free kick from Beckham in the 27th minute failed to clear the wall.
Two minutes later, the Galaxy were lucky not to give up a goal as Donovan Ricketts came out of the box but failed to clear the ball. Jesse Marsch was there and tried to get a shot off, but Beckham was able to help Ricketts recover and boot the ball to safety.
A pair of outside shots by Kljestan and then Bornstein failed to find their target, but a late attack in the half by Galindo nearly broke open the scoring. The speedy forward beat Omar Gonzalez to the ball, but couldn't put the shot past Ricketts, who made a nice save.
Though the half ended scoreless, Chivas USA had to be encouraged by their play as the "visiting" team.
Second Half
Bruce Arena may well have given his players a good yell in the locker room, because the Galaxy came out looking far more energized in the second half - immediately putting pressure they hadn't been able to muster before on the Chivas USA defense. Still, Preki's players did well to hold their shape and deny the efforts of their stadium brothers.
In the 52nd minute, however, a neat little pass by Beckham found Eddie Lewis on a run into the box. As Parker came out to close him down, Lewis passed to Donovan for a shot on the open goal, but Donovan couldn't quite reach the ball before it rolled out.
A counterattack by Padilla put Galindo in a footrace in the box with Gonzalez, who barely won out to save a sure shot on goal.
A handball by Saragosa in the 71st minute led to a Beckham free kick, but, again, it came to nothing as it looked like the defense would hold out and the match finish scoreless.
However, Beckham made sure that didn't happen. A deep throw by Dunivant in the 80th minute was cleared to the English midfielder, who took a first-time shot, taking the time not to power the ball, but to place it well and true past Parker in the net. Beckham celebrated with his teammates as an adoring crowd forgave all past transgressions - since he had scored the winning goal against their bitter rivals.
The final minutes of the game were a testy affair, but the result was virtually sealed when Galindo was red-carded for an elbow against Gregg Berhalter in the 83rd minute.
Beckham nearly added an assist to his goal in injury time, as he worked a nice backheel pass to a breaking Donovan, but Parker made the one-on-one save.
For the second year in a row, the Galaxy claimed the SuperClassico trophy, and perhaps more importantly, moved three points closer to the playoffs.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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