Posted by James

A hard fought and feisty battle between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA saw the home side victorious in the LA derby.

Edson Buddle got off the mark once again early in the game; this time in the 7th minute with a perfectly placed header to the near post. Landon Donovan swung the ball out wide to right back Sean Franklin who put in a superb cross for Buddle to head in the 1-0 lead. Buddle continued to show the great form he is in at the start of the season, bursting around Chivas defender, Michael Umana, and drawing the foul and the first yellow card of the game.

The next LA chance came from a corner that Leonardo headed over.

The only chance for Chivas USA in the first half came from Maykel Galindo who got in behind the Galaxy defense but Leonardo tracked back well to challenge the Cuban and force a shot wide.

The rash challenges started coming in, no more so than Chris Birchall who picked up a yellow for his challenge in the 25th. The handbags came out when Edson Buddle was challenged by Chivas captain, Sacha Kljestan, and received a slight elbow in the jaw. Buddle was none to pleased, and got into the face of the Chivas captain and went too far for the referee's liking and was booked for unsporting behavior.

A first half that saw thrice as many yellows as shots on goal, ended in the Galaxy's favor.

The second half started out very slow with nothing going on in the first fifteen minutes.

Jesus Padilla came on for Osael Romero and made an impact straight away, firing a shot just over the bar five minutes from coming on the pitch. In the 79th minute Chivas should have scored: Padilla got in on goal, from a ball over the top by Kljestan, his shot was saved by Rickets and the ball laid on a platter for the newly introduced, Maicon Santos, who shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Chance wasted.

Seven minutes later a quick Chivas free kick to Mariano Trujillo, who crossed, found a teammate at the far post that was headed back across goal only to be put wide by Santos.

Chivas started to make an impact with the changes they made, changing both starting forwards in the second half, in the game but could not convert the chances to get themselves back into this one.

Chivas would rue their missed chances as Landon Donovan found he and Edson Buddle both behind the defense and the American international found his strike partner who coolly finished for the brace and the win.

The Galaxy took game one in this season's 'Superclasico' and have two wins from two to start the season; Chivas have lost two from two and still in search of their first goal of the season. The Galaxy back-line has yet to concede this season and could prove to be one of the best defenses in the league this season. It would be hard to find a better center pairing than the Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, who very well could be on Bob Bradley's radar, and Leonardo.

It wasn't the best 'Superclasico', six shots by both teams, but the rivalry was still visible as the compete level of both teams was very high.

James, Assistant Producer of World Football Daily.