MLS Soccer Predictions – Chivas USA v L.A. Galaxy
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Onto the week’s MLS preview and prediction for the week.
Matchup: Chivas USA v Los Angeles Galaxy
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2011
Time: Kick-off: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, CA.
TV: ESPN2/ESPND
MLS Fixture Betting Lines and Odds from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Chivas USA (+265) Los Angeles (-105) Draw (+225)
Spread: OFF
Over/Under: OFF
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Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy meet for the first time in 2011 in the first leg of the Super Clasico on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center.
Chivas are coming off their third win in four matches–an inspiring 3-2 win at New York. The Goats returned to their winning form, walking away from Red Bull Arena with 12 points from nine games on the season, good enough for seventh place in the Western Conference.
Justin Braun scored the hat trick with his first goal of the match coming just five minutes into the match as he sliced across the penalty area, striking a curling shot that found its way to the back of the net. The Red Bulls responded with the equalizer in the 21st minute when Thierry Henry, slotted a shot past Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
The Goats regained the advantage on Braun’s second at the 31-minute mark, but once again, New York answered quickly on Dwayne De Rosario’s penalty kick just four minutes later.
Chivas had one final answer, and in the 56th minute, Braun tapped home a shot that caromed off the post to give his side the lead for good. It was Braun’s first career hat trick and the first in Chivas USA club history.
Braun had started the first four games of the season, but not since April 9 against Columbus, and was inserted into the lineup in place of the suspended Marcos Mondaini, who will be unavailable for three more matches.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy snapped a three-game winless streak with a 4-1 thrashing of Sporting Kansas City. The Galaxy now have 20 points from 12 games on the season, and are currently leading the Western Conference.
Sporting KC took the early lead on an own goal by LA defender Omar Gonzalez, but the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan scored the equalizer before the end of the half on a penalty kick.
Then Los Angeles broke the game wide open in the second half on another goal from Donavan, and one from Big Apple transfer Juan Pablo Angel, before David Beckham punctuated the win when he buried a direct free kick from outside the left corner of the penalty area.
Donovan took over the lead for the MLS Golden Boot with two goals in his appearance against. Sporting KC, giving him seven on the season, while also moving into fourth on the MLS all-time goal scorers list with 110 in his career.
Chivas is looking to put an end to an eight-game Galaxy unbeaten streak in the Super Clasico, having not defeated the Galaxy since 2007 when they won the final two league meetings that season. The Galaxy have won five of the eight meetings since (with three draws), including both last season, and also had a win and a draw when the clubs met in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Look for Donovan to continue his streak of nine goals and eight assists in 17 games all-time matches against their Home Depot roommate.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Los Angeles 3, Chivas USA 1
Matt Martz is a sportswriter for the Bakersfield Californian, the Oregonian, Springfield Republican, Sacramento Bee, and the San Diego Union Tribune. I leave handicapping to the pros. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
