There were a couple of games in MLS’ Rivalry Week that were not considered genuine rivalries amongst the fans and, although hailing from the same city, LA Galaxy and Chivas USA was one of them. Chivas USA fans, despite their inferior record in this fixture, look forward all season to playing the Galaxy for various reasons. However, it seems LA Galaxy fans do not hold this match in such high regard and disagree that is worthy of the “Super Clasico” title.
This is perhaps one of the reasons why Chivas USA fans look forward to it so much: the chance to prove a point and be taken seriously. Whatever you thought prior to the match, Sunday’s derby game had everything you would expect from a rivalry. It was physical, controversial and not as one-sided as people predicted. In the end, Chivas USA came back to secure a 1-1 tie, but for Chivas fans it felt like a victory…a moral victory at least.
“We earned a point, but in respect we earned 100. In that respect, we were the winning team.” Chelís
The Goats have a terrible record against the LA Galaxy. Although they broke a winless streak last season with a 1-0 win, they finished the year with another two defeats against the Galaxy (3-0 & 4-0) and this left them as definite underdogs for the first Super Clasico of2013. Chivas USA always seem to start the season as a “rebuilding team” but these new look Goats have a much different attitude than previous teams. Chelís has hammered home what playing in the red-and-white of Chivas USA means and has demanded fight and passion from his players. This might have been preached by previous coaches as well but it never really manifested itself on the pitch. We saw the kind of fight Chelís wants on Sunday and it paid off.
As expected, this was a very physical and foul-laden match that was actually quite even…up until the 40th minute that is. In the major talking point of the game, the referee (Ricardo Salazar) took center stage for all the wrong reasons. In a 50/50 challenge, Galaxy’s Colin Clark slid in to win the ball (which he did) but in doing so collided with Joaquín Velázquez whose feet did not leave the ground. Colin Clark assumed the obligatory fetal position for conning a referee and Velázquez was subsequently sent off for “serious foul play”. It was a dreadful decision from the referee, and one that dented Chivas’ hopes of an upset and obviously swung the balance in favor of the hosts.
“While I told him at halftime to call a fair match, he laughed. He had a wide smile on his face, as if to say, ‘This idiot.’”
Like the majority of Chivas matches at the Home Depot Center (even though this was technically an away game) the 1st half ended 0-0, and the Goats had a monumental task ahead of them if they were going to get anything out of the game.
They had been playing well and showed the fight and desire being instilled by their new head coach. Taking on the defending MLS Cup champions with only 10 men however meant the soccer on display became what some people referred to as “anti-football” or more accurately put: defensive.
As the second half progressed, LA Galaxy had several chances to take the lead but were denied by who other than Dan Kennedy. The captain showed why he was linked to a move to the Galaxy throughout the offseason as he kept Chivas in the game whilst the odds were stacked against them. He couldn’t stop everything though, and in the 83rd minute a fantastic header from Jack McBean found its way past the faultless Kennedy.
Normally this would be game over for the Goats, especially being a man down. But despite their numerical disadvantage against the number one ranked team in the league, Chivas USA did not give up and stunned the home crowd when they got the equalizer. Chivas pushed forward with just one minute remaining and after a great link up between Eric Avila and Carlos Borja, Carlos Alvarez, turned a low cross into the back of the net past Carlo Cudicini.
The celebrations of Carlos Alvarez with the away support in the Home Depot Center showed exactly what this goal meant to everyone connected with the club. Chivas USA’s selection of players has been heavily criticized mainly due to the ethnicity of players on the roster. However it is disrespectful to think that is the main reason why they are on the roster. Chelís wants talented players in his team and he has that in Los Angeles’ own Carlos Alvarez. It was fitting that he scored the goal to give Chivas an unexpected result from this game.
Chivas USA fans celebrated this game like they had won all three points. Some might think that this is an overreaction or not very ambitious, but considering the circumstances Chivas have a lot to be proud of. They proved a point to their long list of critics and doubters. They fought hard for all 90mins with 10 men. They did not balk at facing the “stars” of the Galaxy and Ricardo Salazar. They never gave up and proved that this team should be taken more seriously.
It might not be pretty but after 2012 the fans demanded points and value for money. We have got both of these 2 weeks in a row now from Chelís and Chivas USA. That is something to celebrate.
(image courtesy of Cuauhtemoc Reyes)
