--- In nerevs@yahoogroups.com, rashid fiali <sockit2me05@...> wrote:
>
> By Greg Daurio / MLSnet.com Staff
> CARSON, Calif. -- With a goal and two assists from Landon
Donovan, the Los Angeles Galaxy blitzed Chivas USA early on their way
to a 3-1 victory in the first Super Clasico of 2007 on Saturday night
at The Home Depot Center. Donovan became the 11th player in MLS
history to reach 50 goals and 50 assists in his career, scoring his
first and setting up one as the Galaxy hit for two goals in the
opening 17 minutes. Kevin Harmse scored his first MLS goal, which
proved to be the game winner, and Cobi Jones added a late insurance
goal, answering the lone Chivas USA goal from Claudio Suarez. The
Galaxy dominated possession right out of the gate, completely
controlling the game for the opening 10 minutes. Chivas USA barely
made it out of their half in that time frame, and in the eighth
minute, the early pressure paid off for Los Angeles, the home side on
the night. Kyle Martino sent a cross into the area from the left
flank. As Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan came off his line to
> collect the ball, Suarez stepped in front to head it clear. The
mix-up proved to be deadly as Suarez nodded the ball right into the
path of Donovan, who made no mistake with a gaping net in front of
him. The early goal seemed to wake up the Chivas attack, which put
together a flurry of chances in front of the Galaxy goal just minutes
later. It started with a bouncing ball in the Galaxy penalty area,
which Alex Zotinca tracked down at the back post and fired from point-
blank range. But Ante Jazic was there to deflect the ball over the
crossbar for a corner kick. Chivas played a short corner on the
ensuing free kick, and worked the ball to the top of the penalty area
where Amado Guevara was waiting. The Honduras international blasted a
wicked shot to the near post, forcing a Joe Cannon to punch the ball
wide for another corner. That corner kick was sent into the area
where it found the head of Zotinca. Zotinca got off a powerful header
earmarked for the back of the net
> but for yet another save from Cannon. But the Galaxy raced back
to the other end, and the second goal was soon to follow. Harmse,
making his first MLS start, worked a clever one-two with Donovan.
Harmse's speed and Donovan's perfectly weighted pass allowed the
Canadian international to slip in behind the Chivas defense, and in
alone on Guzan, Harmse tucked a low shot in at the near post to
double the Galaxy advantage. The Galaxy continued to press, and
nearly got a third goal in the 22nd minute. Chris Albright worked his
way forward from his right back spot to join the attack. Albright
sent a ball in along the turf to the penalty spot where rookie Robbie
Findley met the cross, but slipped as he shot the ball, sending his
effort straight at Guzan. Chivas USA's last good chance of the half
came a few minutes later. Harmse found himself defending inside his
own 18 and had a clearing attempt broken up. The ball wound up on the
foot of Jonathan Bornstein, whose shot from
> 20 years skipped just past the upright. Los Angeles came out of
the dressing room with the two-goal lead, but weren't looking to pack
it in and defend. The second half opened up with both sides going end-
to-end. In the 53rd minute Maykel Galindo was the beneficiary of an
advantage call, and he got off a shot from the top of the restraining
arc. Galindo got plenty of power on his effort, forcing a diving save
from Cannon. Galindo got to his own rebound but could manage only a
weak follow-up effort that Cannon easily collected. Chivas pulled a
goal back in the 63rd minute. From a corner kick, the ball pinged
around the area where Francisco Mendoza headed the ball across the
goalmouth to Razov, who banged a header off the upright. Los Angeles
failed to clear, and Suarez made up for his earlier blunder, tucking
the ball into the side netting after Jesse Marsch fired it
goalward. Los Angeles tried to respond quickly, and Donovan won a
free kick on the right flank. He
> then curled in a dangerous ball to the edge of the six that
handcuffed the Chivas defense. Nate Jaqua pounced on the loose ball
for the Galaxy, but his shot from was deflected out for a corner.
Chivas nearly equalized in the 74th minute. Razov picked out
substitute Laurent Merlin with a ball over the Galaxy back line and
the Frenchman hit a first time volley, but his shot went straight
into the arms of Cannon. Four minutes later the Galaxy would retake
their two-goal lead from a quick counterattack. Albright jarred the
ball loose in midfield, and Donovan picked up the loose ball and it
was off to the races. He hurdled a tackle by Lawson Vaughn, then
picked out a streaking Jones with a nice through pass along the
ground. Jones took a touch then buried a shot past Guzan. Jones
tried to repay the favor moments later on another counterattack. This
time Jones was the recipient of a great pass over the top of the
Chivas defense, and raced in on goal. He peeked up and saw
> Donovan making a run to the near post, but the cross was just a
bit too close to Guzan who plucked the ball out of the air. That
sealed the win for the Galaxy, who couldn't have picked a better
opponent against whom to end their scoring drought. The Galaxy have
now defeated their in-stadium rivals eight times in 10 games in all
competitions.
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