Chivas USA, Galaxy resume Super Clasico

The Home Depot Center co-tenants kick off second leg of semifinals Sunday

MLSnet.com Staff

Sacha Kljestan's Chivas USA side and Landon Donovan's Galaxy eye a semifinal victory. (Getty)

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS - SECOND LEG
LOS ANGELES GALAXY v CHIVAS USA
Sun., Nov. 8, The Home Depot Center (4:30 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:
CHV 0 wins, 0 goals scored ... LA 2 wins, 2 goals scored ... 1 tie

AS CHIVAS HOME GAME:
4/11: LA 0, CHV 0
8/29: LA 1, CHV 0 (Beckham 80)

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: LA 0 wins, 2 goals scored ... CHV 0 wins, 2 goals scored ... 1 tie

REFEREE: Ricardo Salazar.
SAR (bench): George Gansner; JAR (opposite): Kermit Quisenberry;
4th: Alex Prus

INJURY REPORT: GALAXY -- OUT: DF Julian Valentin (R foot fracture); FW Alecko Eskandarian (head); QUESTIONABLE: MF Stefani Miglioranzi (L groin strain) ... 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: MF Michael Lahoud (L wrist strain); MF Paulo Nagamura (L foot contusion)

SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS (suspended next yellow): LA: Chris Birchall ... CHV: Marcelo Saragosa

GALAXY:

The foundation for the LA Galaxy's remarkable rise from last place in the Western Conference last year to first place in 2009 was the club defense -- going from 62 goals conceded in 2008 (the sixth-highest single-season mark in league history) to just 31 this season, tying the club for third-best overall (with Chivas USA). However, the two goals conceded in the first leg bore some resemblance to the defensive frailities of a season ago. "There's certain games where there's no errors, but today both teams made them. There's nothing wrong with that because there are mistakes made in games and it's about learning from them. And as a team, we will do that," said David Beckham. "It's entertaining for the public, it's not so entertaining for the managers and the players when mistakes happen and you don't play as well as you can. But that's life." ... A year ago, the teams combined for 13 goals in their three regular-season SuperClasico meetings -- including a 5-2 LA outburst for a win on April 26. But there were just two goals (both by the Galaxy) in the three meetings this year -- until the four goals in the playoff first leg, which could have been more. "I thought we were certainly at fault after we give up the second goal not converting some of the opportunities we created," said Galaxy coach Bruce Arena. "We had a couple of advantages with Landon [Donovan] and Alan [Gordon] that didn't end up in the back of the net that could have made a difference in the game." ... While it was at their Home Depot Center home, the first leg was still technically a road game -- and the Galaxy extended their current postseason road unbeaten streak to three games with the draw. "We're going to have all the fans in our favor instead of theirs," Mike Magee said of the return match. "You can probably double the anticipation. It was a two-game series, now it's one." ... The draw also extended the Galaxy's postseason unbeaten streak to five games, dating back to their last appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2005 -- when they won the club's second MLS Cup title. "We just start over," Donovan said. "This game means nothing ... no away-goals rule. We like our odds, we like our chances and we're going to go for it."

CHIVAS:

After going a stretch of six games from Aug. 29-Oct. 10 where they allowed just two goals (including a 1-0 loss to the Galaxy), Chivas have now allowed eight goals in their last four games -- the final three of the regular season and the SuperClasico playoff opener. "They had a few chances at the end where they tried to catch us on the break and they probably could have with a little better awareness, but it's the game," said Carey Talley. "I think the fans were pretty happy with how it went and we know we have 90 minutes ahead of us." ... Coming into the season, Chivas had scored 11 goals in their five previous meetings with LA -- then were shut out in all three regular season meetings this year. "The ball bounced twice badly for us and all of a sudden we are 2-1 down and we can't get out of the funk. I think mentally we were in shock until we changed a couple things at halftime," Chivas head coach Preki said. "I thought we started the second half pretty good, we got a timely goal and were very, very unlucky not to score one more." ... Chivas has not defeated the Galaxy since Sept. 13, 2007, a winless streak now of seven games in all competitions (including four ties). "Whoever happens to be at the right place in the right time ends up winning the game. It's pretty typical of a Clásico," Talley said. "Who knows what's going to happen, and both teams are fighting incredibly hard and have great fan support on both sides." ... Chivas are also looking to advance past the conference semifinal stage for the first time in club history. They've lost each of their first leg the last two years, but did defeat Houston in the semifinal series first leg in 2006. "Overall, 2-2, we knew the series wasn't going to be decided [last Sunday] night. So, a good game and hopefully we get one of these days a bounce our way. Maybe that will happen next Sunday," said Preki. ... Galindo's impact on the second leg -- especially considering how he energized Chivas USA in Game 1 with his pace - could be a key. "That's the real Galindo that we know from a couple years ago. We encourage him every day in training, we encourage him to show that he still has it and I know he still has it. Now it is the time for him to bring it on," said Preki.