The LA Galaxy defeated Chivas USA 5-0 Sunday afternoon at the StubHub Center securing a season victory in the SuperClasico to the tune of 2-0-1. LA scored so often against Chivas that the confetti began to impede the ball in the final third attacking the Riot Squad end. Landon Donovan notched a brace to tie Jeff Cunningham for the all time MLS goals record at 134 goals.
With Chivas at such a low point for some years now, even head coach for the day Dave Sarachan admitted that the emotion associated with a true rivalry game has subsided. As MLS Analyst Matt Doyle put it on twitter, "If LA and Chivas are rivals, then so are dogs and fire hydrants". Chivas came out with two forwards instead of one, which gave LA the room to work on their way to four first half goals.
Donovan and Keane both had braces, but Gyasi Zardes stepped up the most of any player. Donovan said after the match that Zardes has worked hard all year to fine tune his game and prove he belongs in the starting lineup. Sarachan said that specifically they've worked on when to move past your marker and turn the speed on. That has come but the final pass has still been an issue. Not today with two assists (one of them a hockey assist) on the first two goals and then one of his own.
A.J. DeLaGarza, who's still recovering from injury, remarked on twitter about Zardes dropping dimes and then getting the quarterback sneak for a goal of his own. Mixed sports metaphors aside, that's the role Zardes is falling into. He's the guy finding space and making opportunities for Keane and Donovan.
Omar Gonzalez was pulled at halftime for precautionary reasons over an adductor issue, but he said after the match he's traveling to Kansas City no matter what. Donovan will join him on that flight while Robbie Keane and Jaime Penedo will also travel to represent Ireland and Panama respectively. There's a chance Donovan and Gonzalez could return early and be available for the Galaxy match against Montreal, but that has to be worked out between Jurgen Klinsmann and Bruce Arena.
At the end of the day, it was a match LA was supposed to win and ultimately maintains the status quo. Colorado won yesterday 4-0 over Seattle while Real Salt Lake and Dallas drew, so the Western Conference keeps the same order but got a bit more compact.
Right now Portland on the road without Diego Valeri is taking on Vancouver. That's one to watch as currently the Galaxy are only one point behind Portland. They're also only three points behind Seattle, and with the Sounders playing through next weekend now is not the time to take the foot off the gas.