NO `CLASICO' FOR CHIVAS USA GALAXY SCORES TWO IN 2ND HALF IN WIN GALAXY 2, CHIVAS 0.

Byline: Larry Morgan Staff Writer

CARSON - The second installment of the ``Super Clasico'' held true to form Saturday at Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy (6-2-1), continuing its impressive start this season, got two second-half goals to beat its fellow home-field tenant, Chivas USA, 2-0 in front of an announced crowd of 20,916.

Chivas (1-8-1) continued its disappointing inaugural campaign with its eighth loss in 10 games, the latest defeat almost certain to intensify speculation concerning the status of embattled coach Thomas Rongen.

No decision was made on his job security after the defeat, and Rongen said he doesn't have time to worry about what figures to be an inevitable outcome.

``I don't really think about it,'' he said. ``I really focus on trying to make this team better each day .. that's the focus of my energy. I truly believe the players are responding to that, and the results aren't indicative of a team that does that.

``I am totally submerged in making this team better. It's a non-issue for me at this particular time.''

The Galaxy broke a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute when first-year defender Pablo Chinchilla scored on a header after a free kick by Jovan Kirovski. It became 2-0 less than 15 minutes later when Pete Vagenas (St. Francis High of La Canada Flintridge) scored from 15 yards. It was his fourth goal this season, a career high.

``It's just something I'm trying to add to my game this year,'' he said of his new-found offensive approach. ``When I do score, obviously we'll take it.''

Defender Todd Dunivant said the win was satisfying on two counts, one for coming after a lackluster 0-0 tie against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday and the second for beating Chivas USA.

``Anytime you play a conference rival, let alone someone who's in your own building, you want to stake claim to this territory,'' he said. ``We said before this game we wanted to show them whose home field this is. Tonight we were happy to get the best of them.''

Vagenas said the Galaxy was happy it was over.

``We faced a very dangerous team,'' he said. ``When a team is desperate like that, with people playing for their jobs, we sort of had our foot on their throats, so to speak, and it was up to us to really crush them tonight.''

Larry Morgan, [phone], Ext. 2272

larry.morgan(at)sgvn.com.

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Photo:

Chivas' Ramon Ramirez, right, kicks the ball away from the Galaxy's Paulo Nagamura in the first half of the Galaxy's 2-0 win Saturday.

Matt Sayles/Associated Press