Déjà Vu for Red-and-White and Blue-and-Gold
Rookie Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens scored the game winning goal last night to help keep the Galaxy undefeated. (lagalaxy.com)
Local sides saw familiar endings to their respective matches last night as Chivas USA lost on a late game penalty and the Galaxy defeated the league's next best team to remain undefeated on the season.
Chivas USA forward Justin Braun opened the scoring against the lowly D.C. United by fighting off United defender Carey Talley and putting it into the back of the net at the 16th minute. The early lead gave the impression that the red-and-white were on track to end their two game losing streak, but doubt on their ability to do so was cast when United's Andy Najar scored his first of the season to bring the teams even just ten minutes later.
Few offensive opportunities presented themselves for Chivas USA, with United having the advantage on the attack. Fortunately for the red-and-white, some great saves by red-and-white 'keeper Zach Thornton kept United at bay and prevented a total meltdown. At the 76th minute, however, Adam Cristman would capitalize on a defensive error by the red-and-white's Dario Delgado to give United its first lead.
But Chivas USA quickly responded well to the mishap. Forward Maykel Galindo would tie the score at the 80th minute, a mere 13 minutes after having entered the match for Jesus Padilla.
The teams appeared headed for a draw at that point, but for a third straight week, a late game goal would once again doom the red-and-white. This time around it was the result of a penalty kick call on Thornton, suffered by United's Santino Quaranta during a scramble at the front of the goal.
The play would earn Thornton a red card ejection for denying a scoring opportunity and put Chivas USA in a precarious situation given they had already used up all 3 subs. In a rare sight, a field player (Dario Delgado) had to step in and don the 'keeper's jersey so the match could continue. Talley then stepped to the spot at the 92nd minute and blasted it past Delgado to give United the lead for good and hand Chivas USA its 7th loss.
While Chivas USA struggles to find a way to win, the Galaxy keep on rolling.
Fresh off a 1 - 0 victory over storied Argentine side Boca Juniors last Sunday, the blue-and-gold traveled to Columbus to take on the Crew. With both of their main offensive threats away on duty with the U.S. National Team, the blue-and-gold faced a tough challenge against the league's only other undefeated team.
The Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto quickly got into the action, driving Columbus' offense and nearly scoring on a nifty back heel attempt early in the match. But, despite taking control of the match from early on, the Crew were unable to contain the few Galaxy offensive threats.
At the 10th minute, Galaxy rookie midfield Michael Stephens would score his first career MLS goal after burying a cross from Chris Birchall who had made his way deep into Crew territory down the right flank. Columbus shook it off and gradually turned up the pressure, but another collection of stellar saves by Galaxy 'keeper Donovan Ricketts preserved the lead for the blue-and-gold.
As the game progressed into the second half, the Crew's attack became relentless and included a header into the post and a goal that was called back due to a clear offside. Just when it seemed that the pressure was getting to be a bit too much, the Galaxy's Chris Klein and Tristan Bowen came to the rescue.
Klein drove into the Crew's half down the right flank before handing it off to Bowen who was streaking right through the middle and towards the Crew goal. Bowen picked it up and buried it with a great strike from about 20 yards out to relieve the pressure at 87th minute to give the Galaxy a 2 - 0 lead that would hold through the end.
The victory leaves the Galaxy as the sole undefeated team and puts them atop the MLS standings with 29 points with a third of the season now behind them.