Chivas USA 2 : 2 LA Galaxy

Chivas and the Galaxy drew 2-2 in the first leg of their MLS play-off tie at the Home Depot Center. A series of gift wrapped goals presented courtesy of defensive lapses ensured a pulsating game with the chance of more scoring being ever present. The two sides meet again at the same venue on Sunday. The winners will play either Sounders FC or Houston Dynamo.

Brazilian Maicon Santos gave Chivas a shock lead over LA Galaxy after exactly 200 seconds of their first leg in Carson City. Santos received the ball from Sacha Kljestan on the left outside the penalty area and comprehensively beat both centre half Omar Gonzales, who backed off, and keeper Donovan Ricketts with a powerful low shot. It was Chivas’ first goal against LA in their fourth meeting this season.

Eleven minutes later Mike Magee equalised after Yamith Cuesta tried to control a Landon Donovan flicked header rather than boot it clear. His first touch deflected off Magee and the LA midfielder made no mistake in leaving Thornton helpless with the finish. It was a gift of a goal and it halted the Chivas early onslaught in its tracks.

If that goal was a gift, LA’s second was not only presented but wrapped. Santos needlessly and inexplicably hooked the ball 25 yards backwards into his own penalty area, where Landon Donovan poked it home after Carey Talley messily failed to dispossess him at the first attempt.

Four minutes into the interval, Maykel Galindo was the recipient of another gift when Los Angeles right back Omar Gonzalez was woefully short with a back pass and the Cuban was first to it, and rounded Ricketts, before slotting home form a narrow angle.

Minutes later Paolo Nagamura brought a wonderful save from Ricketts as Chivas pressed an unsettled Galaxy. He then made a point blank save from Maicon Santos after Justin Braun razed free down the Chivas right. Ricketts then picked up a knock and seemed to hobble through the latter part of the game, but Chivas failed to test him.

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