What a turnaround! Just a week after losing to Seattle Sounders 4-0, LA Galaxy played Chivas USA and won by that same scoreline. Few people were expecting the game end that way. Many were expecting the scoreline to be much closer, including myself.
This was the first game of the season that Todd Dunivant, Sean Franklin, AJ DeLaGarza, and Omar Gonzalez played together. Gonzalez had missed the first half of the season, thanks to an injury he sustained in the offseason. Dunivant also missed a few games, though not as many as Gonzalez. With these four in the backline, LA looked like the team that won both the Supporter’s Shield and MLS Cup last year.
LA nearly scored in the first ten minutes of the game, but they were denied by Dan Kennedy. They were finally able to score in the 27th minute of the game. Robbie Keane scored LA’s first goal of the night thanks to Landon Donovan’s assist. This would be the only goal of the first half and LA would lead 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, Chivas starting getting more chances to score, but thanks to LA;s backline, they weren’t able to capitalize. Juninho doubled LA’s lead in the 64th minute and then added another goal less than ten minutes later. Both goals were assisted by Donovan. Gonzalez scored his first goal of the season, off a header following a corner kick from Donovan.
The players of the game, in my opinion, were LA’s captain, Landon Donovan and Chivas’ keeper, Dan Kennedy. Donovan assisted on all fours goals, tying the record for most assists in one game. He now has 105 assists in his MLS career. Kennedy made some incredible saves. Yes, he did let in 4 goals, but he also made 8 saves. Without Kennedy, Chivas could’ve easily let in 5+ more goals. Here are a couple of Kennedy’s saves.
One of Juninho’s goals was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week; you can check it out here.
Next up for LA Galaxy is Columbus Crew on Wednesday night. They will be missing Donovan, who will be playing with the USMNT against Mexico that day.
(image courtesy of Robert Mora/LA Galaxy)
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