The Home Depot Center hosts a battle between two
California teams: David Beckham and the Galaxy and Chivas USA.
These guys played each other back in the middle of
May, with Chivas actually taking all three points in a 1-0 win over the Galaxy.
The game was decided from the penalty spot as Jose
Correa Villero held his nerve and converted midway through the second half.
David Beckham came on as a substitute in the loss, while Robbie Keane didn’t
feature at all.
For the rematch, the Galaxy are given a great chance
by sportsbooks at getting their retribution. Outlets are posting different
numbers, from -165 all the way up to -190. Chivas is listed in the +430 to +485
range and a draw’s installed at +260 for the most part.
Chivas
USA
A team that often goes unnoticed in Major League
Soccer, Chivas are quietly having a solid season. The Goats have been a
complete mixed bag, with six wings, seven losses and five draws through 18
league fixtures.
Having not lost since June 16, Chivas aims to keep
momentum high against a city rival. During this four-game unbeaten stretch
they’ve beaten Montreal and Portland and tied Dallas and Vancouver.
Just how has Chivas been getting these solid
results? By an extreme dedication to defensive discipline. This is a team
that’s allowed only 18 total goals this season, the lowest number of any team
in the league. Sure, the Goats may have scored only 12 times (also the lowest
mark in the MLS) but they’ve been able to stay competitive because of what
Danny Califf, Ante Jazic, James Riley and John Valencia have been doing on the
defensive line.
L.A.
Galaxy
Now that Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane
are all in the lineup together, the goals are coming in bunches. The Galaxy
have scored 10 goals in their past three matches, including that five-goal
explosion in the win over the Portland Timbers.
Wednesday night’s game against Vancouver ended in a
wild way, with Los Angeles scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes after
going down 2-0 in the first half. Beckham and Jose Villarreal were the scorers
in the entertaining draw.
No doubt Bruce Arena will gladly take a point from
that match. The result didn’t change much in the standings, with the Galaxy
still in fifth place, four points behind the Whitecaps in the West.
MLS
Pick
A clash of two different styles here. Will the
Galaxy and their high-powered attack win out over a sturdy, disciplined Chivas
defense?
Well something’s going to have to give. L.A. has
both scored and surrendered 19 goals in 11 away matches, while the Goats have
scored six goals and allowed 11 in 11 fixtures at home this season.
Meetings between these teams have always been close.
In fact, each of the last three have all ended with a 1-0 scoreline. This time
around though, we think the Galaxy will even up the season score and return the
favor with a victory.
Mistakes in the back have been the downfall of Bruce
Arena’s club, but thankfully for them Chivas is not a team known for its’
attacking firepower. We’re backing the Galaxy to win this weekend.
FREE Soccer Pick: L.A. Galaxy 2 Chivas USA 0