Galaxy, Chivas USA resume SuperClasico
Home Depot Center co-tenants kick off first leg of semifinals Sunday
CHIVAS USA v LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Sun., Nov. 1, The Home Depot Center (2 p.m. PT; ESPN2/Deportes)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD:
CHV 3 wins, 17 goals scored ... LA 10 win, 28 goals scored ... 5 ties
2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD: LA 2 wins, 2 goals scored ... CHV 0 wins, 0 goals scored ... 1 tie
AS CHIVAS HOME GAME:
7/11: CHV 0, LA 1 (Buddle 30)
MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: first meeting
REFEREE: Kevin Stott.
SAR (bench): Kermit Quisenberry; JAR (opposite): Corey Rockwell;
4th: Paul Ward
INJURY REPORT: CHIVAS -- OUT: DF Jim Curtin (L ankle surgery); MF Kevin Harmse (R knee tendonitis); GK Dan Kennedy (R knee surgery); MF Jesse Marsch (concussion); FW Ante Razov (R ankle tendonitis); MF Bojan Stepanovic (R knee injury); MF Sasha Victorine (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: DF Claudio Suárez (R hamstring strain); PROBABLE: DF Jonathan Bornstein (R calf strain); MF Paulo Nagamura (L foot contusion); GK Lance Parker (R quad strain) ... GALAXY -- OUT: DF Julian Valentin (R foot fracture); FW Alecko Eskandarian (head); QUESTIONABLE: MF Stefani Miglioranzi (L groin strain)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS: none
CHIVAS: Each previous trip to the postseason, Chivas USA has been hit by a major injury in their strike corps. In 2006, Ante Razov played hurt, missing the second leg; in 2007, Razov was again out and Maykel Galindo was hobbled by an abdominal strain (the pair had combined for 23 goals); and in 2008, Galindo was out and Razov and Alecko Eskandarian were both limited. ... This year, Chivas have their entire first-line frontline available, with Justin Braun (three goals) and Maicon Santos (one) the odds-on to start, with Eduardo Lillingston (team-high eight goals) providing a spark off the bench. "It's definitely good when you have all the guys out there fighting for a spot," said Braun. "It makes good competition in the team and helps everyone increase their level of play." ... Each of those trips to the postseason, Chivas USA have been eliminated at the first hurdle, having home-field advantage in the second leg each of the last two years. "We've never been out of the first round," said Jonathan Bornstein. "What we need to take out of that is that we need to score some goals. Every second leg [of our previous playoff series], we dominated the play of the game but we just couldn't score goals and ultimately, that's what killed us." ... While Chivas have scored two goals in four of their last five games, that is their season-high for the year. They became the first time in MLS history not to score three or more goals in at least one game. "As long as we're creating chances, I think we'll score goals," Chivas coach Preki said. "I wouldn't say we were abysmal. I would give credit to their goalkeeper, who made a couple of good saves. At the same time, is it good goalkeeping or poor finishing? It could be a little bit of both. But we keep going and we keep fighting and we keep playing the way we want to play. Hopefully one of these days this group will get rewarded." ... Three current Chivas players have seen both sides of the SuperClasico: Ante Jazic, Marcelo Saragosa and Paulo Nagamura (who won an MLS Cup in 2005 with the Galaxy). "The two teams are very different," said Saragosa. "The Galaxy were first in Los Angeles, but Chivas USA, because of its ties to the grand tradition of Chivas de Guadalajara, has a bit more intensity and passion I think."
GALAXY: The Galaxy will be counting upon a pair of rookies -- Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLa Garza -- in their back four. Having won an NCAA College Cup together last year at the University of Maryland, their veteran teammates are not concerned about a lack of big-game experience, even on the professional stage. "We've told them it's another level," Dunivant said. "Everyone picks it up, it's another step up in intensity. It's going to be a physical game and you have to match that intensity. In the postseason the biggest part is defense, and that's been our strength all year. If we can keep that going, we'll be a tough team to beat." ... The Galaxy come into the playoffs having recorded shutouts in seven of their last nine games. They have not allowed a goal in 301 minutes, since a 2-0 loss Sept. 26 at Columbus. "That's the recipe of success in this league," Landon Donovan said. "Being compact and good defensively is huge. (Goalkeeper) Donovan (Ricketts) has been great and our back four has been consistently good. We always know we're going to make chances going the other way." ... Donovan has won three MLS Cups, and his three goals in MLS Cup Finals are the all-time lead (his 14 career playoff goals are second all-time). But it will be his first postseason appearance since 2005. "It's been a long time for me, personally. For our fans it's been a long time. We're proud of what we've done," Donovan said. "First in the West gives us every advantage. We know the other teams are going to be difficult, no matter who we play, but it gives us that little edge." ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the playoff SuperClasico is the first playoff series in a single venue since the 1944 World Series, played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, between the Cardinals and Browns. The 1921 and 1922 World Series, between the New York Yankees and Giants, were played entirely at the Polo Grounds, while the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals in 1927 and 1928 (Montreal Canadiens and Maroons) and 1929 and 1938 (New York Rangers and Americans) were also played in one venue. "To play two games with that much at stake, I think it's great," defender Gregg Berhalter said. "If you look at all the playoff matchups, there are some interesting ones in the first round. In our case, add to the fact we're in the same stadium, the same city, we're big rivals ... it's great."
