Galaxy-Chivas USA Post-Game

This was a 0-0 tie that felt like a Chivas USA win.

They’re undefeated and atop MLS; the Galaxy are winless and tied for second from bottom.

Game story.

The common refrain tonight from Galaxy players and coaches was that they’re steadily improving, but you didn’t get the feeling anyone was ecstatic with the alleged progress.

Galaxy front office staff wore team scarves tonight in a show of solidarity with a team that seems to need the reassurance.

These were the first words out of Coach Bruce Arena’s mouth at the post-game press conference and pretty much summed things up from a Galaxy perspective:

“I think it was a fair result for both teams. There’s not much more to say than that.”

Translation: “We were lucky to escape with a point.”

For those so inclined there are more Galaxy quotes here (no point in me transcribing when it’s already done for me).

Reporter Phil Collin headed to the Chivas USA locker room, while I headed to the Galaxy quarters.

Here’s what Gregg Berhalter said about his red card, observing that he didn’t have much of a choice:

“I thought it was something that needed to be done quickly. … Instead of waiting (to see) if (defender) Omar (Gonzalez) could get across I just figured it was now or never. I was trying to convince the referee it was a yellow card, but I knew it was a red card.”

Berhalter on the fact that 31 fouls were called in the game:

“I like to see that in a derby game. It shows passion. It shows that players want to win the game and players want to get stuck in and that’s good to see, I think. Both teams showed passion and the will to win.”

Donovan had a different view of the cards:

“We clearly have to be disciplined better in certain areas. Gordo knows what he did, but those are mistakes we can’t make.”

Here’s Donovan on the overall performance:

“I thought we played quite well tonight. We’ve been getting better – you can see it every week in training, you can see guys getting more comfortable, more confident, becoming more vocal – even the young guys becoming better in the system. But now you need that win to get that confidence, to really believe it. Tonight a few guys were saying ‘gosh, I just want to get that first win under our belt.’ We’ve just got to keep going, we’re getting better I think everyone can see that.”

MLS Standings.

Highlights:

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!