Major League Soccer

Chivas USA Bemoan Luck In SuperClasico Loss

Chivas USA lost by a David Beckham goal in the Honda SuperClasico against the LA Galaxy. After the match, the players rued their luck in an open and scrappy encounter.

Aug 30, 2009 3:46:20 AM

MLS: David Beckham (LA), Maykel Galindo (CHV), Chivas USA v. Los Angeles Galaxy, Aug 2008 (ISI)

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MLS: David Beckham (LA), Maykel Galindo (CHV), Chivas USA v. Los Angeles Galaxy, Aug 2008 (ISI)

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Chivas USA

CARSON, Calif.--Chivas USA players blamed the rub of the green for their 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Honda SuperClasico.

A frantic and messy opening half led to a series of chances by both clubs, but neither took advantage. Chivas USA put three of eight shots on target in the opening stanza, and none in the second. In the 80th minute, David Beckham made the Goats pay by stroking home from a long throw.

“We felt like we had the better opportunities overall,” said second half substitute Chukwudi Chijindu. “When you don't put away your chances it comes back to haunt you. Sometimes soccer is an unfair game.”

Paulo Nagamura donned the captain's armband late in the match, and he saw the game similarly.

“We couldn't finish our chances,” he lamented. “They scored first and once you score first it's tough to break a block of eight, a block of 10 – they were just defending. This is how the Clasico always goes: tough games, physical, cards.”

Nagamura is no stranger to SuperClasico red cards, but in this match it was striker Maykel Galindo who received his marching orders. The Cuban's elbow caught Gregg Berhalter in a play off the ball in the 82nd minute.

“We already had some encounters in the game,” the striker said of his tussle with Berhalter. “He pushed me a little bit so it was my fault that I elbowed him and got the red card. I apologized to the team for what happened.”

With eight games left in the 2009 Major League Soccer season for Chivas, a playoff spot is slipping away. The Goats sit in fifth spot in the Western Conference, though with two games in hand.

“I don't think we have to put our heads down because we have two games in hand,” Nagamura explained. “If we can win our games in hand we can pass Galaxy and we'll be in second place. We've got to put our heads up, get back to work, and put this behind us.”

Next up in that final run-in is the New England Revolution on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com

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