MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: ROLES REVERSED FOR THIS `SUPERCLASICO' GAME.Byline: LARRY MORGAN Staff Writer CARSON -- A year ago the Galaxy's run to the MLS Cup The MLS Cup is the final game of the Major League Soccer postseason, officially recognized as the championship of the league. The trophy is called the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy, after the founding chairman of MLS. championship was about to begin, and Chivas USA was wrapping up one of the worst campaigns in league history. The teams meet tonight at Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box Center, in the ninth edition of the ``Superclasico,'' in considerably different circumstances. Chivas is on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of qualifying for the postseason, and the Galaxy's playoff prospects are all but over. A victory tonight not only would eliminate L.A. from playoff consideration, but it could also provide Chivas with its first playoff berth while giving the second-year franchise the season series with its cross-stadium rival a year after losing all five meetings. Chivas coach Bob Bradley
``This game comes at the end of the season, when the stakes are always higher,'' he said. ``The Galaxy, obviously, their pride will show through in terms of fighting to the end and trying to hold on to the MLS Cup.'' Times are desperate for the Galaxy, which, star forward Landon Donovan Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982 in Ontario, California), is an American professional soccer player on the Los Angeles Galaxy, who is the joint all-time leading scorer for the U.S. National Team (along with Eric Wynalda). noted, could win its final three games and still miss the postseason. ``There's not a whole lot to say,'' he said. ``We're at a point where we have no choice.'' Chivas USA midfielder Francisco Mendoza Francisco Juan Mendoza MartÃnez (born April 29, 1985 in El Salto, Jalisco) is a Mexican football midfielder, who currently plays for C.D. Chivas USA of Major League Soccer. Mendoza came to CD Chivas USA as one of imports from parent club CD Guadalajara. says there's a huge difference in the series, which the Galaxy leads 6-1-1. L.A. swept all four regular-season meetings and scored a 5-2 U.S. Open The term U.S. Open is applied to "open" United States national championships in a particular sport, in which anybody, amateur or professional, American or non-American may compete. These include:
``Our team was very limited last year, and that was reflected in the games,'' Mendoza said. ``This year, we've earned a lot of respect for ourselves.'' larry.morgan@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2272 CAPTION(S): box Box: GALAXY vs. CHIVAS USA - Larry Morgan |
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