Chivas USA fell 1-0 Sunday night in the second leg of the SuperClásico against cross-hall rival the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center. The Galaxy were led to the win on forward Gyasi Zardes’ goal in the first half on a Landon Donovan assist. With the win, LA take a one-game advantage in the three-game SuperClásico season series.
The Rojiblancos came out from the opening whistle playing compact and looking to get into the attacking third. The Red-and-White managed to deliver a number of promising looks in and around the Galaxy’s box in the first half, as Josué Soto looked to set up his teammates on a pair of entry passes from the left seam. Soto chipped a pass over the top of the defense looking for José Manuel Rivera inside the box, but LA goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini arrived in time to secure the entry. Find more about score predictions on bwin. In the 17th minute, Soto combined with Carlos Álvarez on the left side of the box, where the attacking midfielder crossed a low ball toward the near post that was broken up by Cudicini.
Three minutes later, forward Tristan Bowen crossed a pass from the right side of the box that was deflected high. Rivera waited for the ball to come down near the arc and one-timed his right-footed shot on frame that was batted away by Cudicini. In the 32nd minute, Rivera again got into range from behind the arc as he got off a strike, but the attempt deflected off the Galaxy defense and sailed over the cross bar.
Locked in scoreless tie, the Galaxy got on the board first in the 44th minute off a set piece. Donavan played a ball into the mixer from the right seam and Zardes’ header near the penalty spot found the inside of the left post for the 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Playing a goal down, the Goats looked to equalize, as they brought on midfielder Marco Delgado to start the second half. In the 56th minute, Delgado chipped a short pass over his defender into the box to Rivera as the midfielder made his run into the box, but could not get on the end of the attempt. Three minutes later, Bowen stole a pass and pushed the ball up the left seam and was faced with a one-on-one as he crossed into the box. The Los Angeles native created space for himself and got off a clean strike that crashed outside the side netting. Bowen again took a shot at goal in the 63rd minute from about 20 yards out after he brought down a pass off his chest in the attacking third, but the attempt was high and wide to the right.
Playing as the home side, the Rojiblancos continued to get into dangerous spots looking to even the match. Bowen threaded a pass to sub Jorge Villafaña in the 70th minute, who then worked the ball on the left wing to get off a shot from the left side of the box, but the attempt was wide of the near post. In the 89th minute, midfielder Laurent Courtois had a dangerous look at goal, as he worked the ball to his left along the 18-yard line to get off a curling left-footed attempt that sailed over the crossbar, as the match would remain at 1-0 for the visiting side.
Galaxy 1-0 Chivas USA
Scoring Summary
LA – Gyasi Zardes 2 (Landon Donovan 4) 44’
