The Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA battled to
a 2-2 draw in their Major League Soccer Western Conference Semifinal Series
opener in the first ever playoff meeting between the two L.A.-based teams on
Sunday.
Mistakes by both teams led to goals, which is uncharacteristic of the lineups
that were normally rock-solid through the regular season.
The game's first goal was scored by Chivas USA just four minutes in when
midfielder Sacha Kljestan was given a ton of room breaking into the offensive
third. Kljestan then threaded a pass to Maicon Santos on the left side of the
L.A. penalty area before he fired a left-footed shot past a diving Donovan
Ricketts for the 1-0 advantage.
L.A. got the goal back less than 10 minutes later the Chivas USA defense gift-
wrapped a goal for Galaxy attacker Mike Magee. A ball was played back into the
Chivas USA area, and after defender Yamith Cuesta misplayed it, Magee pounced
and slotted it home to make it 1-1.
Santos, also in the giving mood, gift-wrapped the Galaxy's go-ahead goal as
well in the 41st minute. After a clearance by the Chivas USA defense, Santos
mistakenly lobbed the ball back into his own area. Landon Donovan ran onto the
ball and slotted it past Zach Thornton to make it 2-1.
But Chivas USA pulled even less than five minutes after the break when Galaxy
defender Omar Gonzalez' back pass from the right sideline was intercepted by
Chivas USA striker Maykel Galindo, who took a touch around Ricketts and fired
into the back of the net.
The two teams will try to cut down on their mistakes when they square off in
the second and deciding leg of the series next Sunday.
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