Galaxy win battle of L.A.

Apr 29, 2007, 5:15 GMT

Carson, CA - The Los Angeles Galaxy finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together on Saturday night in 2007's the first edition of the Super Clasico, the fixture with Los Angeles neighbor, CD Chivas USA. A goal and two assists by Galaxy captain Landon Donovan led his team to its first league victory of 2007.

Kevin Harmse and Cobi Jones also scored for the Galaxy (1-1-1), who have dominated the series at The Home Depot Center, here, between the two teams, going 7-1-1 in the three-year Major League Soccer history of Chivas USA. The win also moves the Galaxy out of the Western Conference basement

The Galaxy jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the first 17 minutes of the game to get off to a roaring start in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000. It was the second strong attendance showing by MLS on Saturday with a standing room only crowd of 20,148 at the 20,000-seat BMO Field in Toronto for the Canadian franchise's first ever home contest.

With only one goal in its previous two contests, the Galaxy were given a gift by Chivas for their first tally in this contest. Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Claudio Suarez collided while going for a bouncing ball in the box and it caromed to a wide-open Donovan on the left side. He fired it home for his first goal of the season in the eighth minute.

A little less than 10 minutes later, defensive midfielder Harmse worked a give-and-go with Donovan, charging down the left wing and taking a perfect return touch pass from Donovan before beating Guzan inside the near post for his first MLS goal to make it 2-0.

Chivas was able to cut the lead in half about 18 minutes after the break when Suarez capped off a flurry in the box by deflecting a Jesse Marsch shot into the net. Francisco Mendoza also earned an assist on the play.

Donovan put the game out of reach in the 78th minute though when he raced up the right sideline with speed and hurdled a defender before bending a ground- ball pass to a charging Jones, who touched into the back of the net for the 3-1 L.A. lead.

Los Angeles goalkeeper Joe Cannon made five saves in the game to earn his first win with the Galaxy while Chivas' 'keeper Guzan made four stops.

Los Angeles is off next weekend, playing next against New England at home on May 12 while Chivas plays at D.C. next Sunday. The next edition of the Super Clasico will be May 20, with Chivas acting as the home team.

© 2007 The Sports Network