• Game info: 7:30 pm EST Sun Nov 8, 2009
  • TV: ESPN2
Preview | Box Score | Recap

The venue will be the same, but the Los Angeles Galaxy believe things will look a lot different this Sunday at the Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy and Chivas USA will play the second leg of their Western Conference semifinal series after a sloppy draw last weekend.

This is the first time there has been a playoff edition of the SuperClasico between these Home Depot Center co-tenants. Chivas USA was the “home” team last weekend as the teams finished tied at 2.

“We just start over,” Galaxy star Landon Donovan said. “This game means nothing, no away-goals rule. We like our odds, we like our chances and we’re going to go for it.”

A fresh start could be what both teams need after turning in some poor play last Sunday. Donovan and Mike Magee both scored for Los Angeles on goals that were a direct results of misplays by Chivas.

Chivas also scored the final goal of the match in the 46th minute when an ill-advised back pass from Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez went right to Chivas forward Maykel Galindo, who was able to easily beat Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

“It’s entertaining for the public, it’s not so entertaining for the managers and the players when mistakes happen and you don’t play as well as you can,” David Beckham said. “But that’s life.”

Los Angeles could be facing a distraction since the club announced earlier in the week that Beckham will be headed to Italy to play for AC Milan on loan again. The England midfielder played for Milan for six months in the first half of the year, missing some action for the Galaxy.

“I’m committed to LA Galaxy and MLS in the long term and remain as passionate as ever about growing the game of soccer in America,” Beckham said. “I’m completely focused on ending this season on a high note with my club by winning the MLS Cup.”

The Galaxy are looking forward to seeing more of their gold and blue on Sunday in the stands after seeing plenty of Chivas’ red and white last weekend among the 25,218 fans.

“We’re going to have all the fans in our favor instead of theirs,” Magee said. “You can probably double the anticipation. It was a two-game series, now it’s one.”

Chivas failed to score in three regular-season matches against its archrival, and is excited about getting two goals in the first leg. Maicon Santos scored the first goal of last week’s match.

“It’s pretty typical of a Clasico,” Chivas defender Carey Talley said. “Who knows what’s going to happen, and both teams are fighting incredibly hard and have great fan support on both sides.”

Chivas has lost three times and drawn four in its last seven matches against the Galaxy since Sept. 13, 2007. Los Angeles is unbeaten in its last five MLS Cup matches.

The winner will meet Houston or Seattle in the conference championship.

7 Comments

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  1. Matty
    7. Posted by Matty Mon Nov 9 1:09am EST

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    Its gonna take a lot of work and time to bring good, solid talent to the MLS. Having watched the MLS in the past and throughout this season I believe this match was one of the most exciting and eventful matches I've seen. There were plenty of errors to go around, but there was also a lot of good play.
  2. EamonnB
    6. Posted by EamonnB Sun Nov 8 11:56pm EST

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    I have to agree with Yasmin..these MLS games are very hard to watch at times...
    I watched the English Premier league all day yesterday and then tried to watch the New England - Chicago game...eventful as it was , it was excruciatingly lacking in inventiveness and cunning, and the coaches seem clueless as to adjusting their teams tactics during the game. Very much an amateurish feel to a lot of players capabilities and vision (or lack of)

    Even so, I will be rooting for the Dynamo against the Galaxy in heh Western Finals Friday...just not sure if I can sit through the whole thing lol
  3. Yasmin
    5. Posted by Yasmin Sun Nov 8 11:38pm EST

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    Well this game sucked ... forget Becks not even Messi or CR9 could make an MLS game interesting. How are these supposed to be the conference finals? All games were bore-fests specially the so called LA 'clasico' ... lackluster to say the least
  4. Matty
    4. Posted by Matty Sun Nov 8 11:18pm EST

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    Donavon is the best. Galaxy will win the final. we can beat any of the teams left in the playoffs.
  5. h2oman
    3. Posted by h2oman Sun Nov 8 10:49pm EST

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    Chi-Town

    C'mon now... racism has nothing to do with it. I'd have to say it has much more to do with another kind of ignorance... soccer/football is more of an afterthought and rarely gets any kind of credible coverage, so if there is bias, it is against soccer in general.

    Cuauhtémoc definitely still has beautiful touch on the ball and vision but has lost a few steps in getting to it. Love to watch him play and hope he is back with Chicago after the World Cup but can't really agree that he is the best in MLS. Besides.... Témoc is still appears to be playing for the Mexican National team so is that a poor reflection on them?
  6. Chi-Town
    2. Posted by Chi-Town Sun Nov 8 6:56pm EST

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    How is it that Quatemoc score the winning goal and the have a picture of some guy..? Yahoo sports is racist against Mexico players in the MLS, and Mexican players period. The only reason I kinda sorta follow the MLS is because of Temoc. After this year when he's playing for Veracruz I'm gonna care less about league. Temoc a 36 year old soccer player's the best player in the MLS - why the MLS and yahoo don't like to give the kudos he deserves is a mystery to me (racist). Temoc rarely every gets any media attention for all that he's done for the mediocre Fire and Yahoo sports rarely credit him for it; but Beckham so much as farts on the ball and we'll here about it for weeks.. Eventhough he can care two shïts about this league. That's why my friends and I (life time soccer players) around our circles we trash the MLS and what it stands for..
  7. Jetsabel
    1. Posted by Jetsabel Sun Nov 8 12:08am EST

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    How about a chivas win so they can meet the dynamo in the western conference final (after houston destroys seattle and their "legions" of fans)

    Hopefully this game will be better then the last crappy game with all 4 goals coming from crappy defense..


    Forever orange! Go DYNAMO! RECLAIM THE CUP!
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