Beckham Goal Secures Honda SuperClásico Trophy
Galaxy midfielder David Beckham celebrates his 80th minute goal against Chivas USA. Photo by AP.
L.A. soccer fans were treated to a great match last night as Chivas USA and the Galaxy battled in the final match of the 2009 edition of the Honda SuperClásico. The pace by both teams was relentless from the start and end-to-end action characterized much of the match.
The red-and-whites seemed the more dangerous side in the early minutes and appeared poised to take an early lead, but despite some quality chances, were unable to capitalize. Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan put in another good performance and nearly walked into the goal at the 12th minute, but Galaxy 'keeper Donovan Ricketts was up to the challenge and forced a bad shot. Minutes earlier, Ricketts had also been called into action on two occasions to keep Chivas USA forward Maicon Santos from opening the scoring.
At the other end, the Galaxy would generate several chances of their own. Forward Mike Magee nearly scored a mere two minutes after the Kljestan chance, but his shot would roll across the face of the goal, then out. As the game reached the 30 minute mark, Magee would be back, picking up a failed clearance just outside the six yard box. He sent a good hard shot towards the Chivas USA goal, but 'keeper Lance Parker made a great, close range save to keep the blue-and-gold off the score sheet.
As the first half came to a close, Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo had two great opportunities only seconds apart, but he too was unable to open the scoring before the break.
One had to wonder how much longer the teams could maintain the pace, especially after a similar start to the second half. The Galaxy nearly opened the scoring at the 47th minute after a scramble in front of the Chivas USA goal, then again on a couple of other occasions in the minutes that followed. Chivas USA withstood the Galaxy attack through the first 15 of the second half, then struck back.
Galindo and teammate Paulo Nagamura would both make runs at the goal, but last second heroics from Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez and the rest of the Galaxy defense helped contain the threats.
Galaxy forward Landon Donovan would lead the charge back minutes later only to be thwarted. But the Galaxy was on the attack and getting into the offensive third on a frequent basis. Minutes after Donovan's chance, Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant would send a throw-in deep into the Chivas USA penalty area. The red-and-white defense was unable to clear the threat and the ball made its way to the top of the box where Beckham pounced on it. His one-time shot at the 80th minute would ricochet off the far post and into the goal to give the Galaxy the lead.
Chivas USA's plans to battle back in the final minutes were quickly undone due to a lack of discipline. Galindo would be ejected from the game a mere two minutes after Beckham's goal due to an elbow on Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter. A man short, the red-and-whites were unable to mount any further attacks and spent the remainder of the game fending off the Galaxy offense.
Despite some quality chances for the Galaxy in the dying minutes, the 1 - 0 scoreline remained unchanged through the end. The victory secures the Honda SuperClásico trophy for the Galaxy and moves them to within two points of the league leading Houston Dynamo. The news aren't that great for Chivas USA. The loss, in combination with the other scores from last night, puts the red-and-whites into a 2 way tie for 4th place on the Western Conference standings. It may be a 3 way tie by the end of the day if Colorado wins against Houston.