On a warm evening in front of a packed house of 27,000 fans at The Home Depot Center, Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy earned a 2-2 draw on Thursday night in the third and final Honda Super Clásico of 2008.
The Red-and-White’s attempt at its second-ever come-from-behind victory was thwarted by Alan Gordon’s 92nd-minute goal. Chivas USA had fallen behind in the 8th minute of the game on a Landon Donovan tally but battled back to a 2-1 lead by on goals by Atiba Harris (50’) and Paulo Nagamura (63’).
With the result, Chivas USA improves its record to 6-8-6 (W-L-T) and, with 23 points, maintains its fifth-place standing in MLS’s Western Conference, just four points behind the first-place Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy, however, claimed the 2008 Honda Super Clásico trophy by virtue of their 5-2 win over Chivas USA in the first game of the three-game series.
Chivas USA MF Jesse Marsch was diagnosed with a fractured jaw late Thursday night after receiving a blow to the face from the Galaxy’s Sean Franklin in the final quarter-hour of the match. No card was shown on the play, and Chivas USA, which had used its three substitutions just seconds earlier, was forced to play the rest of the game with 10 men.
Chivas USA Head Coach Preki, on Thursday’s match: “At the end of the day, I’m really, really proud of my group. We played like 10 lions, or like 10 hurt lions, and I’ve got to tip my hat to them. I’m really, really happy for them, just unhappy that at the end we didn’t take three points.” (For a full quote sheet, please visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/.)
The Red-and-White were missing ten players on Thursday due to injury and international absence: Alecko Eskandarian (sports hernia surgery); Lawson Vaughn (R knee sprain); Raphaël Wicky (R ankle surgery); Alex Zotinca (R knee surgery); Jonathan Bornstein (R hip strain); Jorge Flores (R ankle tendonitis); Ante Razov (L knee sprain); Claudio Suárez (Concussion); Gerson Mayen (U.S. U-20’s) and Sacha Kljestan, who returned from international duty with the U.S. Olympic Team just hours before the match.
Friday morning, Chivas USA will hold its third Practice in the Community of 2008, in conjunction with the Soccer for Hope Annual MV Camp & Walk at 27301 La Paz Road in Mission Viejo, Calif. Media should RSVP by contacting Chivas USA Communications.
The Red-and-White return to MLS action next Wednesday, Aug. 20 when it travels to face the defending MLS Cup Champions, the Houston Dynamo at 6:00 p.m. PT (live on KAZA Azteca 54; tape delayed on FSN West).
Chivas USA’s next home game is Saturday, Aug. 23 when it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/.
