The first installment of the SuperClasico between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA went to the road team in perfect time for a tough stretch.
Finally the LA Galaxy, after three games into the 2014 MLS season, picked up their first win of the year, a 3-0 drubbing of Chivas USA.
For the Galaxy the pressure is on in 2014 but the remembrance of an early exit in the 2013 playoffs is a fire burning well within the team. Although beating alleged rivals Chivas USA isn’t going to catapult the Galaxy into the headlines, executing at the time where execution is expected is what is important. With the 3-0 win the Galaxy are now 19-4-6 all-time against Chivas USA and are 9-2-3 when designated as the road team in the series. Too make things even more lopsided since 2008 the Galaxy are 12-1-4 against their Los Angeles room mate.
Landon Donovan is still scoreless on the year which means the all-time MLS careers goals record remains unclaimed – tied between Jeff Cunningham and Donovan at 134 career goals. Donovan last found the back of the net in October of last year – two goals in a 5-0 win over Chivas USA – we’ve seen this before. It’s nothing new in sports for a player to be at the door step of a landmark moment and find himself struggling to do something he has done so many times in the past with ease.
For Donovan, the milestone isn’t what’s the priority, scoring goals to help his team win is the number one focus. It just so happens that when he does hit the back of the net he [Donovan] will sit atop such a monumental record. While Donovan continues to get another crack at it, Robbie Keane has been handling the work load. Through three games on the year, Keane already has taken 12 shots – 6 on goal – and scored twice for the team lead in all three categories.
The Galaxy at 1-1-1 currently sit seventh in the Western Conference, nine points behind conference leader FC Dallas.
Not to worry though – the six teams ahead of LA have played two more games than the Galaxy. With that said, LA still has to maintain to close that gap because the schedule makers sparred no mercy on the Galaxy early on in the season. Having already faced Real Salt Lake twice to open up the year, LA will play back-to-back matches with the Vancouver Whitecaps – a home/away series – followed by three of the next four matches against teams with high expectation in 2014 – including a May 21 showdown with FC Dallas.
Having won two of the last three MLS Cups, the Galaxy will always have the target on their chest and with many considering the Galaxy to be the favorites in 2014 the target just got bigger. So get out there to StubHub Center, cheer on your LA Galaxy and enjoy the long road to hoisting the 2014 MLS Cup.
Next Match: Saturday, April 12 – 7:30PDT vs. Vancouver
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