LA Galaxy beat rival Chivas USA in an exciting high scoring game (4/08)
All I can say is “WOW, What a Game!” There was so much action in this local rivalry between Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy. A sell out crowd got to see Landon Donovan score a hat trick (3 goals) and Alan Gordon score the other two on April 26, 08 at the Home Depot Center. Donovan (pictured above) delivered in spectacular fashion scoring with a great left foot shot and also being in the right place at the right time. It is not luck but intuition and speed that separates him from many others. There is no better player in the USA in the open field for sure and he is one of the best around in the world. Gordon came in as a reserve in the 71st minute replacing Edson Buddle and put the Galaxy in front with an incredible timing leap to out jump Chivas goalie Brad Guzan and head in a goal.
Of course many came to see David Beckham (above) and he played a very steady game making some great passes and utilizing his quickness and deception even with USA national team player Jon Bornstein shadowing him most of the game (pictured below). The final score was 5-2 in the high scoring match that leveled the Galaxy at 2-2-1 for the season. New head coach Ruud Gullit was full of energy and passed it onto his team. The Chivas team took exception including their head coach, Preki. They especially didn’t like Donovan’s celebration after each goal and thought Landon was showing them up. Donovan is a very emotional, enthusiastic player and when he scores a goal, he shows it. Both him and Gullit tried to explain he was just being very vocal and demonstrative but in now way, showing the other team up. Chivas believed otherwise and the rivalry is on!
The score was close in the first half as each team traded goals and the teams were tied 2-2 after Donovan netted his first goal. Then Sacha Kljestan of Chivas put a great move on Galaxy defenseman Abel Xavier and drilled a shot into the corner of the goal to tie it up. Donovan scored his second, as Chivas couldn’t clear the ball before Ante Razov tied it up on a rebound shot as Galaxy Goalie Steve Cronin was out of the net. Donovan, Gordon and the Galaxy pulled away with the last three goals despite a mixed crowd as this is also Chivas USA’s home field but it was considered a home game for the Galaxy this time. More info, schedule and tickets at www.lagalaxy.mlsnet.com
