Preview: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA
Apr. 26, 2008
Landon Donovan and David Beckham are showing the type of chemistry the Los Angeles Galaxy have been waiting for.
The Galaxy hope the duo can continue its outstanding play and help them end a four-game homestand on a positive note Saturday when they face crosstown rival CD Chivas USA in the SuperClasico.
Donovan has had a hand in all six goals by Los Angeles (1-2-1) this season, scoring five to lead MLS and assisting on another. That lone assist came on a goal by Beckham before the English midfielder returned the favor to Donovan in a 2-0 win over San Jose on April 3.
Donovan followed that up by scoring twice in a 3-2 loss to Toronto on April 13.
Beckham linked up with Donovan again last Saturday, setting up both of the forward's second-half goals to help the Galaxy rally for a 2-all tie with Houston .
"I've always said that when you play with players that are intelligent, they know where to run and where the ball is coming," Beckham said. "That was the case (last Saturday) and the case in some of the other games. It's just about the understanding of the game."
Beckham has a team-leading three assists after getting only two last season as ankle and knee injuries limited him to five games.
The Galaxy hope Beckham and Donovan can build on their impressive performances to help re-establish the team's success over Chivas USA (1-2-1) in the first matchup between the clubs this season.
Los Angeles has dropped the last two meetings with Chivas by 3-0 scores after losing only once in the previous 10 matchups (7-1-2). Donovan has three goals and five assists in nine games of the all-time series.
Chivas USA is hoping the return of two key midfielders can help it shake off a sluggish start to the season, and avoid its first three-game losing streak since dropping four in a row from Sept. 3-24, 2005.
The team generated only two shots on goal in a 2-0 loss to Dallas on Sunday. Chivas struggled without Francisco Mendoza and Sacha Kljestan, who were serving one-game suspensions for being issued red cards in a 4-3 loss at Columbus on April 12.
The tandem leads Chivas with two assists each, while Kljestan has a team-high two goals.
Teammate Ante Razov, who had 11 goals and eight assists last season, is hoping to return to the starting lineup after a calf injury caused him to miss two games before being used as a second-half substitute Sunday.
"We haven't had our full group at all this season, preseason included," Razov said. "There have been guys in and out with injuries and we've had so many guys banged up that it's tough. Clearly, it shows on the field. We don't really have the same rhythm we had a year ago. It might take a little bit but we've got to work on it pretty hard."
Razov is still looking for his first goal of the season as he remains stuck on 109 for his career, ranking second behind D.C.'s Jaime Moreno (113) on the MLS all-time goals list.
Razov has 10 goals and eight assists in 29 games against Los Angeles , the team that drafted him out of UCLA in 1996.
New York Red Bulls waive F John Wolyniec (PA SportsTicker) Thierry Henry is officially on the New York Red Bulls' roster. Donovan reiterates desire to return to Everton (PA SportsTicker) Landon Donovan says he still wants to return to Everton and the English Premier League. MLS Injury Report - Friday, July 30 (PA SportsTicker) EASTERN CONFERENCE Manchester United routs MLS All-Stars (AP) Javier Hernandez scored on his Manchester United debut as a youthful Red Devils team put in an impressive performance to beat the Major League Soccer All-Stars 5-2 in a friendly on Wednesday. Federico Macheda had two early goals while Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley also found the net for the Premier League side.
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The Galaxy opened their stadium, the Home Depot Center on June 7. But in order for their home to be ready, the team had to play a record 8 games to start the season and failed to win a game. In fact, the Galaxy finish the season without a win away from home the whole season. After the season's final game, the Galaxy had the final playoff spot in the West. In their aggregate series with the Earthquakes, they seemed well on to vindication for the MLS Cup loss 2 years earlier as they held 4 goals to 0 lead midway through the 2 nd game. A thing happened as the Earthquakes scored four unanswered goals to force a tiebreaker. In that session, the Earthquakes' Rodrigo Farina score to send the Quakes onto the next round.
In 2004 Looking to return to the top, the Galaxy would go through a mediocre 1 st half of the season before 3 straight wins over the summer. But from July 14 on, the Galaxy won only 2 more games, one in September and one in October. The Galaxy had a record of 11-9-10, good enough for 2nd in the West and the playoff, remaining the only club in MLS to have a playoff spot in every year of league in the playoffs, the Galaxy withstood an early challenge from the Rapids to win the aggregate goal series, 2-1, scoring 2 times in Game 2. In the conference final, the Galaxy's season would come to an end in Kansas with a 2-0 loss to Arnaud and the Wizards.
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