November 8, 2009 DONOVAN DECIDES IT PK advances Galaxy to West final
BY Scott French
Landon Donovan's penalty kick was the difference-maker against Chivas USA. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
CARSON, Calif. – The galling mistakes were avoided this time, and scoring was at a premium. So it was perhaps fitting the first postseason “SuperClasico” was decided on a penalty.
Landon Donovan’s spot kick in the 73rd minute lifted the Los Angeles Galaxy past archrival Chivas USA, 1-0, Sunday at sold-out Home Depot Center and into next week’s Western Conference title game against the Houston Dynamo with a 3-2 aggregate over two legs.
The Galaxy will host the Conference Final next Friday at 8:00 p.m.
Donovan fired low and to the center as Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton leapt to his left, settling a tight, intense series and putting the Galaxy, which missed the playoffs the past three seasons, one victory from the Nov. 22 MLS Cup title game in Seattle.
Three of the four goals in last week’s 2-2 draw in the first leg of this home-and-home series, in which both teams call Home Depot Center home, were the result of egregious defensive errors. Both teams provided stronger performances in the back this time around, and the lone mistake proved decisive.
It occurred in the 70th minute, after David Beckham sent a sensational, curling ball from midfield onto Donovan’s path. Donovan found Mike Magee on the right side of the box, and Magee was felled by Chivas defender Yamith Cuesta, who wrapped his leg around Magee’s – essentially nailing the Galaxy winger in a particularly sensitive area – as he was beaten at the right post.
Donovan, positioned up front with Edson Buddle, was the pivotal player all night for the Galaxy as Bruce Arena’s maneuvering paid better dividends than did Chivas USA coach Preki’s.
Preki dickered with his backline, pairing Shavar Thomas – making just his fourth start since June – with Cuesta in the middle and pushing Jonathan Bornstein out to the left flank, his customary position before the regular-season stretch drive.
Bornstein was stranded on the left, seeing little of the ball on attack and charged primarily with occupying Chris Klein. He had three opportunities, turning one into a corner kick, but the other two were snuffed out by Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, first, and then central defender Gregg Berhalter.
Chivas forward Maykel Galindo, whose halftime entrance had a mammoth impact on the first leg, was brought on in the 60th minute; his fitness would not permit him to play much longer than a half. He had an opportunity right away but couldn’t get to Maicon Santos’ ball through the goalmouth.
Arena swapped Donovan with Magee, putting Donovan on the front line with Magee moving into support on the left wing. Donovan was all over the field, winning balls (or aiding teammates’ battles) in midfield and spearheading an attack that generated only so many opportunities despite some intelligent buildup and quick counterattacking.
Donovan’s best first-half chance arrived early, but his sharp shot from the left side of the box was deflected into the near-post netting. Maicon Santos had Chivas’ first opportunity, but he headed wide in the 16th after a poor clearance by MLS Rookie of the Year favorite Omar Gonzalez, whose superb regular-season form has been absent during the postseason.
The goalkeepers were called upon to make a diving stop in a brief span late in the first half. The Galaxy’s Donovan Ricketts leapt to his right to deny Justin Braun’s bending ball headed toward the left post in the 32nd minute. Zach Thornton did his duty just three minutes later, turning away a Chris Klein chip-and-volley from Donovan’s insightful cross-field pass.
Beckham, between those chances, just cleared the crossbar with a 19-yard blast from Dema Kovalenko’s feed. Sacha Kljestan’s long-range blast had the same impact for Chivas five minutes later.
