Rookie Zardes Scores To Snap Galaxy's Three-Game Winless Streak
CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Gyasi Zardes scored just before halftime, and the Los Angeles Galaxy snapped a three-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory Sunday night over "SuperClasico" archrival Chivas USA.
Zardes nodded home Landon Donovan's free kick as the Galaxy (7-6-3) climbed to fourth place in the Western Conference, seven points off the lead. Chivas (3-10-2), the home team at the StubHub Center, tied a club record with its seventh successive loss and its seventh shutout defeat in a 10-game skid dating to the end of March.
"It was typical of these (rivalry) games," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "I thought we were in position to get a second goal and didn't, let Chivas hang around, and they never quit. They played a good game. They played hard for 90 minutes. Give them credit."
Robbie Rogers appeared to score for the Galaxy, slipping a pass from Donovan past keeper Dan Kennedy, but referee Hilario Grajeda ruled Robbie Keane interfered with the play. Keane, in an offside position between Rogers and the goal, screened Kennedy.
Zardes nearly connected two minutes later, but Kennedy dived to knock the shot off the right post. Zardes hit the net in the 44th minute, his glancing header from Donovan's delivery caroming in off the left post.
"He has a way to go, but he's an athletic kid, a pretty good understanding of the game," Arena said. "He had a bunch of opportunities tonight. Can do a little bit better in front of the goal, but having said that, it was a great goal he scored, his header."
Chivas was limited to just six shots and just one on frame, a Jose Manuel Rivera volley that forced a reaction save from Galaxy goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini in the 20th minute. The Goats got to Los Angeles' box a few times in the second half, but were unable to make anything of their opportunities.
"For me, there were two stages," said new Chivas coach Jose Luis Real, who debuted in Wednesday night's loss at Vancouver. "In the first half, we were maybe expecting too much. The second half was different because we were trying to score."
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