Chivas USA-Galaxy at Home Depot Center
Five changes for the Galaxy this evening after last week's loss to New England and no wins in the last three games.
Most fans will undoubtedly be pleased to know that even with an ankle injury to central defender Sean Franklin that was announced Wednesday the hapless Abel Xavier is nowhere to be seen.
Not even on the bench. And with the signing of Argentine Eduardo Dominguez perhaps we've seen the last of him. Ever. One can hope.
Steve Cronin is in goal as usual, with Chris Klein and Ante Jazic flanking the new (and probably temporary) central defensive pairing of Troy Roberts and Greg Vanney.
In midfield Alvaro Pires and Joe Franchino are both benched, so in come rookie Ely Allen and veteran Pete Vagenas, making only his third start of the season.
Up front it's Landon Donovan (hopefully largely recovered from his lengthy bout with the flu) returning in place of Alan Gordon alongside Edson Buddle.
Chivas, undefeated in the last three games, makes far fewer changes - just one in fact.
Veteran Mexican defender Claudio Suarez is dropped in central defense for Shavar Thomas.
That means Carey Talley, Bobby Burling and Jonathan Bornstein, along with Thomas, provide the defensive protection for goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Atiba Harris, who played just behind striker Ante Razov against the Earthquakes, moves to right midfield, with first time MLS all-star Sacha Kljesten taking that slot.
The other midfielders are Jesse Marsch and Paulo Nagamura as usual, with Razov up top.
So it's a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 for Chivas USA, take your pick.
Updated: Xavier is apparently out with left knee inflammation. And I thought it was just Galaxy fans who were inflamed with his performances of late.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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