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:

Galaxy 0 Chivas USA 0

With 10-man Seattle (Kasey Keller was sent off) dropping a 1-0 decision to Kansas City this evening, Chivas USA have ended the night as the only undefeated team in the Western Conference. The Galaxy, of course, have yet to record a victory this season.

Chivas USA pressed forward as the game wore on, trying to capitalize on their one-man advantage, but couldn’t break the stalemate before the crowd of 23,317.

That said, the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan may have had the best chance of the second half, rounding goalkeeper Zach Thornton and sending the ball goalward in the 74th minute only for Carey Talley to clear the ball and prevent it going in the net.

Galaxy defender A,J. DeLaGarza also had a 58th minute lob from long-range that required a touch from Thornton to tip it over the bar.

Chivas USA’s Sacha Kljestan also had a low 20-yard drive in stoppage time thwarted by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

More later.

The Galaxy are down to nine men in the 79th minute. Gregg Berhalter just brought down Alecko Eskandarian; as the last man back he drew a straight red card on his MLS debut.

He’s the seventh player in MLS history (and second today) to be sent off in his MLS debut.

The Galaxy are down to 10-men as well as Alan Gordon picks up a second yellow (he got two in two minutes) for an off the ball incident with Carey Talley.

It’s still deadlocked 0-0 in the 76th minute.

Galaxy 0 Chivas USA 0

This is a typical derby with almost as many cards – five yellow and one red, the latter for Chivas USA’s Pablo Nagamura who received a second yellow for deliberately bringing down Landon Donovan, (who did his best to sell the foul and draw the ejection) just before the half ended – than shots on goal (7).

Referee Tim Weyland seems intent upon keeping players on a short leash, leaving both coaches shaking their heads on the sidelines at some of the disciplinary decisions.

Chivas USA have generally looked more threatening in attack than the Galaxy with both Eduardo Lillingston and Nagamura drawing good saves from Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts within a couple of minutes.

Lillingston and Donovan both had relatively quiet halves, although Sean Franklin is again looking much more comfortable going forward in midfield up the right wing than he did in defense.

Best chance of the half for Chivas USA fell to Jesse Marsch who saw a chance from about three yards saved by Ricketts.

Ricketts is looking considerably more comfortable than Josh Saunders did between the posts for the Galaxy, while 35-year-old Gregg Berhalter is looking solid on his MLS (but not Galaxy) debut.

Best atmosphere of the year at Home Depot Center, too, with an enthused crowd, Chivas USA fans beating drums and the L.A. Riot Squad brandishing inflatable goats.

Updated: Lillingston was pulled at the half for 10-man Chivas USA, as was Gerson Mayen; Coach Preki has brought in Alecko Eskandarian, who appears to be playing alone up front now, and Bojan Stepanovic.