Final: Galaxy at Chivas USA
Chivas USA 2 Galaxy 2
An entertaining if error-ridden game with all four goals coming from unmitigated howlers has ended all square.
Alan Gordon missed a trio of chances for the Galaxy after coming on a as a second half sub that could have made the difference, but Chivas USA had their own burden to bear with striker Justin Braun seemingly intent on giving away virtually every ball he touched.
Highlight of the second half was Paulo Nagamura's stabbing turn and shot that required an agile (as always) Donovan Ricketts to turn the ball spectacularly around the post with a superb diving save.
Next: the Galaxy host Chivas USA at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Home Depot Center.
More later.
Updated:
Trust SI's Grant Wahl to put it in succinct perspective with this tweet: GrantWahl
Let's see: 4 goals, 4 examples of crap defending. LA-CHV looking like CYO game. Beckham's head might explode. 2-2.
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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.
I want to hear more from the Serie A fans this reporter has no trouble qouting. Opinion of 25,000 people who just happened to show up at the stadium today does not matter.
The figure was 25,218 to be exact - the largest playoff crowd at the HDC outside of an MLS Cup game. Great to see and a good atmosphere, too, helped considerably by the top-notch Banning High band. Let's hope for a repeat next Sunday.
Frankly, Alan Gordon is lucky to still have a job in this league. I don't know why Arena didn't dress Bryan Jordan, who has better touch and far better speed -- especially against rather quick centerbacks in Cuesta and Bornstein.
I'm with J D'H. Anybody but Gordon would have had two, or at the very least have passed to Donovan for the tap-in on one. Exasperating. A game there for the taking, even after the howlers.
And yes, Donovan's score came after he handled the ball to settle it. Referees miss things sometimes.
Bruce Arena is a stuburn mule, so am I for bringing this point up time and again.
Everytime Donovan and Beckham start in the midfield the team suffers defensively. And if they are not sharp, like they were NOT yesterday, then the offense goes out the door as well. Arena needed to play this as a tight away game by going with Buddle as a lone striker with Donovan coming in from behind. Instead he goes with a 4-4-2 with Landon and David in the middle and activates Franklin to boot. No wonder poor Gonzales looked terrified all game and Ricketts was going ballistic all the time. Throw in the pedestrian Magee in there too and you're asking for punishment.
Thank god The Goats went stupid on the same day as us or we'd be looking at a 2 goal deficit going in to the next game.
For me the blame lies on Bruce's tactics and the poor performance by Donovan and Beckham.
Re the hapless Flash Gordon, he tries hard the poor soul. He came in, got stuck in and liven things up a bit. Donovan couldn't convert the first pass he gave him so he took the next one himself. For all the punishment he takes for the team I say he earns his keep.
Note to the editor: Magee out, Lewis in, Landon pushed up, offense comes alive.