Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy square off
for the second and deciding leg of their Western Conference Semifinal series
on Sunday night at The Home Depot Center.
The two L.A.-based teams are tied at two after battling to that score in the
first leg of the home-and-home, total goals series last weekend. This marks
the first time the Major League Soccer rivals they have met in the playoffs.
The first leg features defensive lapses by both side's, hence the 2-2
score line between the usually defensive clubs.
"There's certain games where there's no errors, but [in the first leg] both
teams made them," L.A. midfielder David Beckham said. "There's nothing wrong
with that because there are mistakes made in games and it's about learning
from them. And as a team, we will do that. 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. But that's life."
Despite the mistakes, the Galaxy are confident heading into the second leg in
what is now a winner take all match.
"We just start over," Galaxy attacker Landon Donovan said. "[The first leg]
means nothing ... no away-goals rule. We like our odds, we like our chances
and we're going to go for it."
Chivas USA has not defeated the Galaxy in seven matches in all competitions,
so recent history isn't on their side in this one.
"Whoever happens to be at the right place in the right time ends up winning
the game," Chivas USA defender Carey Talley said. "It's pretty typical of a
Clasico. Who knows what's going to happen, and both teams are fighting
incredibly hard and have great fan support on both sides."
The Goats will be aiming to get to their first Western Conference Final with a
result on Sunday.
"Overall, 2-2, we knew the series wasn't going to be decided [last Sunday]
night," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "So, a good game and hopefully we get one
of these days a bounce our way. Maybe that will happen Sunday."
Chivas USA will be without defender Jim Curtin, midfielders Kevin Harmse,
Bojan Stepanovic, Sasha Victorine and Jesse Marsch, and forward Ante Razov,
while defender Claudio Suarez is questionable, and midfielders Michael Lahoud
and Paulo Nagamura are probable, all with injuries.
The Galaxy will be without defender Julian Valentin and forward Alecko
Eskandarian, while midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is questionable with an
injury of his own.
"You can probably double the anticipation," L.A. attacker Mike Magee said. "It
was a two-game series, now it's one."
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