It was a tale of two halves for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy and Martin Vasquez's Chivas USA before a late Sunday afternoon crowd of 24,283 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

It was a first half where the Galaxy went off to a flying start and a second half where they clamped down defensively when they went down a man. Together, they told the story in a 2-1 victory for Los Angeles, further securing their hold on the Honda SuperClasico by winning 4-1 on aggregate.

In retrospect, it could have been 3-2 Chivas. And here's why.

In the eighth minute, a shot from Giancarlo Maldonado sailed just to the right of the net. LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was a sitting duck on that sequence, as well as in the 13th minute, when former Galaxy bookend Alan Gordon had a golden chance to score on his old team, but the ball sailed to the left.

Gordon would make amends in the 64th minute with a sensational volley that Ricketts lunged in vain to clear. But for the most part, unlucky shot selections combined with an offense that got shredded to pieces by a Galaxy back line desperate to return to form, and a terrible defensive display in the first half, doomed the Goats on Sunday.

And it was that terrible defensive display that sparked the Galaxy to a rousing first half start. The American Pele has been on and off in regards to his form after the FIFA World Cup, but in the 23rd minute, Edson Buddle was able to prove that he lost none of his scoring touch, flipping the switch to earn his 15th goal of the season.

As a matter of fact, it should have been a brace for the Galaxy's No. 14, but a ninth minute volley clanged the crossbar. And you cannot have those easy ones hit the woodwork when the MLS Cup Playoffs begin.

As for midfielder David Beckham, you can play John Sebastian's "Welcome Back" in the background over the Victoria Street loudspeakers as he delivered his first goal of the season in the 39th minute of play. His trademark bending shot could not be touched by anybody, not even Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, although you will have to give him credit for trying.

Hopefully, that will not be Beckham's last and we will get to see the No. 23 score a few more times.

What I am particularly impressed with today, in spite of the opponent the Galaxy faced, is the performance of the back line. They had ice water in their veins and played like they wanted to defend their own third,, especially with the return of Omar Gonzalez to the lineup.

As far as I am concerned—or anyone should be concerned, for that matter—Gonzalez is the glue that binds this Galaxy back line together and when you do not have his services available, opposing teams will feast on the lack of presence. That's how important the No. 4 is. He made stop after stop after stop and, combined with clutch clearance from Sean Franklin, made life miserable for the Chivas attack.

Aside from giving the Goats life in the second half, Los Angeles put on a performance that will be crucial to holding off Real Salt Lake, the Columbus Crew and those pesky New York Red Bulls, who are quickly supplanting the Crew for the best team in the MLS Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia Union have officially been put on notice ahead their Thursday night encounter at PPL Park on October 7. As has been the case, every game will now count for LA in their continuing race for this year's Shield.

When the Galaxy are able to get to a fast start and dictate the tempo like they did on Sunday night, it will only be a matter of time before they get the separation they need to punch their ticket to the CONCACAF Champions' League next year.

Two goats in the win over the Goats


Retirement for Eddie Lewis cannot come any sooner. I mean, you just cannot brain explosions like that in the 76th minute, where he stomped on Chivas's Rodolfo Espinoza with both of his feet. It's just plain idiocy at its worst.

Because of this, for all that Lewis has accomplished in his footballing career...I personally will not miss him one bit. You don't have a lot of games remaining, Eddie, so why go out against the Goats like this? I will not miss you one bit at all, and I have intentions to change my stance.

As for Michael Bradley...his yellow card in the 89th minute is one of the top first-year player mistakes to avoid.

All you prospective college seniors/Generation Adidas primadonnas who plan to participate in the MLS SuperDraft, here's a suggestion: don't kick the ball away from an opposing player when he is planning to restart the ball just to rub it in. Avoid it at all costs, even when you are tempted to do so. Otherwise, you will get a piece of plastic cheese heading your way. Case in point: Stephens. Oh yes, and Landon Donovan did the same thing a few weeks back, too.


Alan Gordon scoring against his old team!?


Appararently Chivas USA striker Alan Gordon is still rocking and rolling. He had a few close calls with his shot selection, but in the 64th minute, Gordon (who comes from the same city I do in Long Beach, California) launched a shot that Donovan Ricketts did a poor job in saving.

Either that, or somebody impregnated the match ball with nylon magnets. Now I don't know if something like that exists (don't quote me on this), but it must have been attracted to the net because the Big Cat from Montego Bay could not get a good hand on it. Lousy clearance attempt. This is the type of keeper inconsistency that I have had nothing but vitriol to pour over and lo and behold, I'm pouring it again.


Youth Academy Update


The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy Under-18 and Under-16 teams kicked off their seasons in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy against Real Salt Lake Arizona on Saturday, October 2 at the Home Depot Center Track & Field Complex.

The Under-18s drew 2-2 with Real Salt Lake Arizona, but the Under-16s crushed RSL Arizona 4-0.

Next Saturday, the Under-18s and Under-16s take on the De Anza Force at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of California State University East Bay. Hey, wasn't there a women's championship game held there a few days ago? I wonder...

Kickoff for the Under-16s is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT, while kickoff for the the Under-18s match is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT.

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