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Chivas blank Galaxy for first Super Clasico series win

Sep 14, 2007 - 6:47 AM CARSON, California (Ticker) -- Ante Razov and Francisco Mendoza each scored a goal as Chivas USA routed the Los Angeles Galaxy, 3-0, on Thursday night.

The win gives Chivas its first Super Clasico series victory, which pits the two teams that share the Home Depot Center as a home field and training facility against each other.

The win also ties Chivas (13-6-4, 42 points) with the Houston Dynamo (12-7-6) atop the Western Conference.

Lawson Vaughn sent a long pass downfield that connected with Razov, who outran the Galaxy defense. The 33-year-old forward beat goalkeeper Joe Cannon on a tough angle, planting a shot off the left post to give Chivas the 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.

Mendoza cemented the game in the 88th minute, scoring his second goal of the season. Mendoza received a pass from Sacha Kljestan in the midfield and carried it into the box before beating Cannon for the score.

Less than a minute later, the Galaxy botched a defensive clear, allowing Laurent Merlin to notch his first goal of the season on a blast from the top of the box.

"During the game, you feel that you've played well in spots and then naive in others," Galaxy forward Landon Donovan said. "Chivas has done this all year; they wait for you to make those mistakes and they capitalize on them and that was the difference tonight."

The Galaxy played well in the first half and nearly drew even in the 29th minute. But, Abel Xavier's shot off the corner kick from Donovan sailed over the net.

The Galaxy had another golden opportunity in the 33rd minute when a chest pass landed in front of a wide-open Donovan. Chivas goaltender Brad Guzan made the save, closing off the angle to the goal before the rebound was cleared by the defense.

"I think on a whole, we had our chances," Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said. "I felt it was pretty even in the first half. We moved the ball well. I don't think the score flatters us but in the end it's 3-0 and that's what counts. We're making mistakes - not just in the back but in the front also - and it makes it worse when we lose these opportunities."

Guzan faced 10 shots on goal but only had to make one save, posting his 11th shutout of the season.

Despite a defensive strategy in the second half, Chivas had several chances to wrap up the game before finally doing so in the 88th minute.

"I thought we did well tonight against a tough team," Chivas coach Preki said. "The Galaxy is a team that has its moments and I thought we handled them well but, in all honesty, I felt that we were more dangerous.

"We had more chances, especially in the beginning of the second half. It's a credit to us that we held them when they put pressure on us and we're able to finish the game off."

In the 54th minute, the Galaxy failed to clear a Chivas corner kick, allowing Maykel Galindo to fire a shot off the left crossbar. The Galaxy controlled the rebound and cleared the ball, ending the threat.

In the 68th minute, Chivas mounted an odd-man attack but didn't capitalize as Kljestan headed a cross wide of the goal.