Half Time: Galaxy-D.C. United

Bad defending by Sean Franklin forced Dema Kovalenko to bring down D.C. United’s Christian Gomez in the box just before half time. Gomez converted the spot kick.

This is not a classic by any means; until then Galaxy rookie Omar Gonzalez had perhaps gone closest for the home team with a header that went wide off a Landon Donovan corner.

Press box crowd estimates are 16,000-20,000 or about what Chivas USA drew last night. That’s perhaps the first time the Galaxy haven’t claimed a sell out for a home opener since their 2003 move to Home Depot Center.

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Galaxy-D.C. United at Home Depot Center

No Edson Buddle for the Galaxy up front and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is injured, too; Josh Saunders gets the start, while former teammate Josh Wicks gets the start for D.C. And it means Cal State Dominguez Hills goalkeeper Miguel Benitez (a pool goalkeeper for MLS) is on the bench for the Galaxy.

Full disclosure: I’m not at the game. But I will Twitter updates.

Lineups.

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Sunday Galaxy Gameday

Showers and wind are expected for the Galaxy’s season opener at noon (live on Prime and Telefutura) from Home Depot Center against D.C. United.

I am unable to make it out there today for the game, but will watch on TV and provide updates via Twitter. I will also preview the game on a Washington radio station prior to kickoff and you can listen on-line here.

For a preview from a Washington perspective click here.

I talked to Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena about his old club earlier in the week and this is how he sees the game:

“They’re never an easy team to beat in this league, although they’ve been down a little bit in the last couple of years. … I know they’re dealing with a lot of injuries as well at this point in time.

“We anticipate that Emilio will be on the field – Emilio is obviously one of the top goal scorers in the league. And (Jaime) Moreno is the best goal scorer in the history of this league so that in itself is a handful. I know Francis Doe, one of their other forwards; I had him in New York and he’s a very talented player.

“In the midfield I think one of the players who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves is their holding midfielder Clyde Simms; he does a fabulous job and is a key to their team.

“I know there’s some questions about whether (Santino) Quaranta or Fred will be available (they are both out), but my expectation is Ben Olsen is going to be playing and Ben has been one of the great players in the history of D.C. United.

“Their back line is improved. They have a young player they brought in – (Dejan) Jakovic – recently and they expect him to play in the middle with (Marc) Burch on the left and Bryan Namoff on the right, so that’s a pretty solid group.

“Their goalkeeper could be (former Galaxy goalkeeper) Josh Wicks because of the injury to (Louis) Crayton (he’s listed as questionable) and that would be interesting. We think the world of Josh and I was so happy he had the opportunity to stay in this league with Josh Saunders (who is expected to start for the injured Donovan Ricketts). It could be a homecoming for Josh Wicks, which will be an interesting story in itself.”

A profile of Wicks, who is from San Bernardino, is here.

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Final Result: Chivas USA-Colorado Rapids

Two second half goals within four minutes by Paulo Nagamura gave Chivas USA a 2-1 come from behind win Saturday against the Colorado Rapids at Home Depot Center.

Updated

Quotable:

“At halftime we brought Galindo on the field, and every time we have Galindo on the field, we’re a different team – that’s not a secret,” said Chivas USA Coach Preki. “We found a way to get two good goals by Paulo [Nagamura], and we had another 5-6 moments that I thought we could’ve done better. But we’ll take the win the way it is.”

Game details.

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Update: Chivas USA-Colorado Rapids

A ghastly mistake by Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton has allowed the Rapids to take a 1-0 first half lead at Home Depot Center.

Thornton failed to hold a Ugo Ihemelu shot in the 30th minute, which allowed Omar Cummings to follow up and put it in the back of the net.

Didn’t take long for the injury bug to bite Chivas USA, huh? Dan Kennedy, not the elderly Thornton, would surely be in goal if he wasn’t injured.

And new Chivas USA striker Eduardo Lillingston has been invisible.

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