LA Galaxy 0, Chivas USA 1
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
CHV – Jose Correa 2 (Penalty Kick) 72’
Misconduct Summary:
CHV – Oswaldo Minda (Yellow Card) 36’
LA – David Junior Lopes (Red Card) 70’
LA – Landon Donovan (Yellow Card) 85’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Perk; Sean Franklin, David Junior Lopes, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant; Mike Magee (Chad Barrett. 78’), Juninho, Marcelo Sarvas, Kyle Nakazawa (David Beckham 74’); Landon Donovan ©, Pat Noonan (Edson Buddle 60’).
Subs Not Used: Bill Gaudette, Leonardo, Bryan Jordan, Michael Stephens.
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy; James Riley, Danny Califf, Rauwshan McKenzie, Ante Jazic; Oswaldo Minda, Nick LaBrocca (Blair Gavin 90’), Alejandro Moreno©; Juan Agudelo (Juan Pablo Angel 76’), Jose Correa, Miller Bolanos (Jorge Villafana 60’)
Subs Not Used: Tim Melia, John Valencia, Peter Vagenas, Paolo Cardozo.
Referee: Mark Geiger
Referee’s Assistants: Sean Hurd and Steven Taylor
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Notes:
- With the loss, the Galaxy are now 3-6-2 on the season for 11 points. They now sit in eighth place in the Western Conference standings, two points behind Chivas USA, who leapfrogged them in the standings.
- The Galaxy are now winless in their last five games, going 0-3-2 in that time while being outscored 6-2. This is the first time since May 2009 that LA have gone five straight games without a win, going 0-0-5 from May 6-30.
- The loss snapped LA’s six-game winning streak over Chivas USA in the regular season and was their first loss to them since 2007.
- This is the first time in the history of the SuperClasico that Chivas USA won the first leg of the series.
- LA have now lost one more regular season game than they did last season.
- Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made four changes to the team that drew 1-1 away to the Montreal Impact last weekend. David Junior Lopes, Mike Magee and Marcelo Sarvas all returned to the starting lineup while Pat Noonan made his first start of the season. They replaced Dan Keat, David Beckham, Michael Stephens and Robbie Keane. Beckham and Stephens each started the game on the bench while Keane and Keat did not dress.
- Keane was unavailable after experiencing right hamstring tightness during the week in training.
- While Keane missed out, Edson Buddle, Leonardo and David Junior Lopes all returned to the squad. Buddle missed the draw in Montreal with a right adductor strain while Lopes had missed the last two games with a hamstring strain.
- Leonardo was making his first appearance in the 18-man squad since April 17, 2011 when he suffered a severe right knee injury in a game at Chicago. He was activated from the Disabled List on Friday, clearing him to return to the lineup.
- In addition to Keane, the Galaxy were without Andrew Boyens and Omar Gonzalez, each of who are on the Disabled List.
- Pat Noonan was making his first ever start for the Galaxy
- With the changes, the Galaxy have now made at least one change to their starting lineup in every game that they have played this season. In only one of those games did LA make fewer than two changes.
- Josh Saunders missed his fifth straight game while completing the MLS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health program
- David Junior Lopes became the first Galaxy player to be sent off this season after committing a hand ball on the line.
- Lopes' handball led to a penalty kick which was converted by Jose Correa for his second goal of the season.
- The penalty kick was the third conceded by LA this season. All three of LA’s goalkeepers have faced a penalty with Josh Saunders stopping an Omar Cummings spot kick on April 21 and Brek Shea beating Bill Gaudette on April 28.
- Brian Perk has now faced a penalty in two of the three regular season games that he has started in his MLS career.
- Correa’s goal was the first shot on goal of the game for Chivas USA.
- This was the eighth time in their last nine games that LA has allowed the game’s opening goal. LA have gone ahead 1-0 just three times this season and only once since March 18.
- David Beckham, who arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon after fulfilling commitments regarding the Summer Olympics in England, came on for Kyle Nakazawa in the 74th minute and had one shot on goal in his 16 minutes on the field.
- Mike Magee had a game-high five shots, though none were on goal.
- Landon Donovan was shown a yellow card for a handball in the 85th minute. He is now tied with David Beckham and Juninho for the team lead with three yellow cards.
- The Galaxy have now given up at least one goal in each of their 11 regular season games this year.
- This was the fourth time this season that the Galaxy were shutout and they failed to score in the opening 45 minutes for the eighth time in their 11 games.
- LA have still not scored a goal inside the opening 15 minutes of either half while conceding five goals in that time.
- Sean Franklin once again played the full 90 minutes for the Galaxy. He has started all 13 games that the Galaxy have played this season in all competitions and has played every minute of the club’s 11 regular season games. He is the only player on the club’s roster to do both.
- Juninho and Mike Magee each started and have played in all 11 regular season games that the club has played this year.
- Those three have also played in all 13 of LA’s games this year in all competitions.
- David Junior Lopes, Kyle Nakazawa, Pat Noonan, Brian Perk and Marcelo Sarvas were each playing in their first SuperClasico for the Galaxy. Of that group, only Lopes had previously played in the series, having played for Chivas USA last year.
- While he was the only player in the Galaxy squad to have played previously for Chivas USA, six of the 18 players that dressed for the home side had played before for the Galaxy. Of that group, Juan Pablo Angel, Danny Califf, Ante Jazic and Alejandro Moreno all played by Paolo Cardozo and Peter Vagenas were each on the bench.
- The attendance for tonight’s game was a sellout crowd of 18,800 at The Home Depot Center. This is the fourth straight game that the Galaxy have played in front of a capacity crowd.
- The Galaxy will be back in action on Wednesday, May 23 when they host the San Jose Earthquakes on Armed Forces Night at The Home Depot Center. That game, which is presented by Farmers Insurance, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen live on KDOC and KWHY.
Quotes:
LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena
On what was the difference in the game:
“I think the difference in the game is we did poorly with the chances we created. And in a game like that someone has to take advantage of it. Goal scoring opportunities, we had a couple of real good ones, certainly in the second half, and did poorly with them. The referee did an outstanding job, and I’m not sure I can ever say that in an MLS game but that was an appropriate penalty and send off.”
On the play of Sarvas and Juninho in central midfield:
“I thought they did a good job tonight. They both had good games. It was a good game. It was a pretty even game for sure.”
On the attacking duo of Noonan and Donovan:
“Pat did alright. Pat hasn’t played a whole lot for us but we thought he’d be a good combination with Landon. I don’t think that Landon was comfortable playing up top tonight, I don’t think he did well in terms of holding the ball in situations where we needed it held. I thought he did better in the midfield in the second half. I thought Pat was solid. I thought Magee did alright. He got some pretty good chances, what more can you say. We have to stick one of those.”
On if this game was indicative of the season:
“Yeah, I would say that. I think on the season our record is probably not real precise in terms of how we’ve played. I think we’ve played a little bit better than our record indicates. But tonight the difference in the game was taking a chance. We didn’t do it and give them credit. I think the referee did well on the call. I think perhaps he might have called a foul against our keeper on the play. When Perk went up their striker put his back into him a little bit, but fair enough.”
LA Galaxy Midfielder Landon Donovan
Overall thought on the loss:
“It’s kind of been the same old story. First half was not great for either side. They had the one chance off the post, but not a lot of chances. I thought we played really well in the beginning of the second half, and had some chances to score and didn’t. And then one kind of weird play and that determined the game and that’s kind of how’s it’s been all year.”
On the fairness of the red card and penalty kick call:
“From what I hear it was a hand ball. So if you put a hand ball off the line he has to give him a red card. It’s kind of harsh because it’s hard for David to react, it just kind of hits him, but that’s the way it goes and it’s unfortunate.”
On the play of Chivas USA:
“They are kind of what we expected. Juan obviously gives them a different element and Danny, we know Danny well, he’s a good leader and does a good job back there. But, we had chances to score and unfortunately we keep giving up the first goal and it’s making it real tough. Can’t fault the effort, the effort was great just for whatever reason it’s not going our way and we have to keep going.”
LA Galaxy Defender David Junior Lopes
On what happened on the play that led to the penalty kick and red card:
“What happened? Everyone saw it. There was a loose ball following a block, their forward shoots it and I was in front of the goal line and didn’t have time to react to get my hand out of the way. The ball went straight to my hand, it came at me very fast. That’s what happened. The fault was mine. It was my hand. I was the one who got a red card. I am very sad about what happened.”
On if the infraction was fair:
“It’s complicated. I don’t want to say yes or no, but it was a very fast ball and straight to my hand. I wasn’t trying to put my hand on the ball, it just went straight to my hand. It’s complicated. I would say yes, it’s fair, if I were going out of my way to stop the ball, but probably no when it just hits you in the hand, which is what happened, so it’s very complicated.”
LA Galaxy Goalkeeper Brian Perk
On the loss:
“It’s tough. It hurts. Thought we played well, created a lot of chances, didn’t give up to many chances and one blunder by me cost us the game pretty much.”
On the penalty kick:
“I went down the middle because I thought he saw me move the one before so I figured I would leave early and go down the middle. He took it well. He didn’t put it next to me.”
On what Chivas did well to get the win:
“They kept the ball well and created a few chances and it’s just real unfortunate. I thought we deserved at least a point, probably three, so that’s hard right now.”
On the quick turnaround and playing San Jose on Wednesday:
“That’s probably the beauty of it. We have another game on Wednesday and another chance to get three points so we can look forward to that and put this one behind us.”
Chivas USA Head Coach – Robin Fraser
Thoughts on match:
“I was really pleased with the way we started the game, I thought we came out very aggressively. We were able to make ourselves pretty dangerous, pretty early and for most of the time we were on the verge of being quite dangerous. When things didn’t go our way, we didn’t fold, we didn’t crumble, we didn’t back down, we just re-grouped and came again. It was a very satisfying with for the team in a number of ways. It was a very strong, and very committed and determined performance. I think our group was extremely solid, extremely committed to getting out of this thing with a shutout.”
Importance of winning in the SuperClasico:
“It’s big. I think I underestimated the level of rivalry between these two teams when I first got here. I was surprised by the nature of comments after our first game last year and it was very evident that there was very little respect for this club. The only way to get respect is to go out and earn it, and I thought that they did a good job of that tonight.”
On Califf’s performance:
“I’ve known Danny for a long time. I’ve seen him play in some big arenas and his decision making has gotten to be very good with the experience that he’s had. It was great to see him step in and look extremely comfortable as you’d like to see an experience center back come in.”
On Agudelo’s Debut:
“I think Juan had a good debut. He’s a player who wants to be on the ball. He’s a very attack-minded player, he’s got very solid feet. You could see there were times when he wanted the ball, he wants to make things happen. I thought his impact was immediate and we’re extremely excited to have him.”
Thought’s on team’s defensive performance:
“I thought it was very resolute. I thought they did a very good job of adapting as the night went on. I thought as a group, not just the defenders, but the entire team did a good job of reading things that were dangerous. I’m really proud of their defensive performance.”
On Correa’s performance:
“For a kid who’s 19 years old, he’s not afraid of contact, he’s not afraid to go up against big, strong center backs and put his body in harm’s way. He’s energetic, he’s enthusiastic and just three weeks into his MLS career, he’s certainly showing well.”
Chivas USA Forward – Jose Erik Correa
Thoughts on second game and second goal:
“I feel great and very happy about starting in this league just how I wanted. As a forward to score goals is the most important thing and I hope to continue playing like this for the team and the organization.”
On the play before the penalty when you receive the ball:
“I kicked the ball and struck it well. The Galaxy defender was standing right the goal line and he stopped it with his hand. The important thing I said is to score and to add points to the standings.”
Chiva USA Forward – Juan Agudelo
On first match with Chivas USA:
“It was great especially to get a win against a team like the Galaxy. I just loved being a part of it. I just try to focus on the things that are on the field and what I do in the game. I was very grateful that I got the playing time that I got and got some chemistry with the players.”
