The Los Angeles Galaxy, only two games into the regular season look to kick-start their MLS campaign with a win against their local rivals Chivas USA. The Los Angeles Galaxy has had their opening home game dashed by Real Salt Lake with a 0-1 lost and scrounged a point with a 1-1 draw against Salt Lake in Utah. The Galaxy will come to rely on their midfield in the upcoming matches. Bruce Arena last sunday chose to start Dan Gargan as right back and Brian Perk in goal. In the game against Chivas USA two players from the midfield would open their scoring accounts for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The first half could not of turned out perfectly for the Galaxy as they dominated possession early and created opportunities. The Galaxy got on the score sheet just a little after 37 minutes after Ishizaki sent in a cross to Dan Gargan at the right post. Gargan brilliantly headed the ball across goal for Robbie Keane to smash it home despite Kennedy's best efforts. The LA Galaxy did not stop there either in the 42nd minute Juninho found Ishizaki bursting into the Chivas USA box. Stefan on his second touch quickly dispatched his shot into the back of the net to extend the Galaxy's lead to two going into halftime.

LA manager Bruce Arena knew as well did his Chivas USA counterpart that if the Galaxy can get a third goal before Chivas can score, they will put the game out of reach. The Galaxy's third decisive goal came in the 56th minute with a beautifully built counterattack. The Galaxy's passing cut through the Chivas USA defense, like a warm knife through butter, clearing enough space for Baggio Husidic to net his first Galaxy goal. The important third goal slowed the game down significantly for the Goats; in fact their first effort on the Los Angeles goal was in the 82nd minute. Chivas USA didn't in fact have much going forward for them until after the 80th minute. Chivas USA head coach Wilmer Cabrera stated in the post game press conference "this is our worst performance." Wilmer Cabrera was also adamant on his side being able to get back to work the next week to recover from this set back.

The Los Angeles Galaxy have won their first game in the MLS this campaign and reluctantly it was against their hometown rivals Chivas USA. The Galaxy will be facing off against the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday evening in Carson California. The Whitecaps will be looking to recover from their lost to the Colorado Rapids in week five, losing 2-1 in Colorado. The Los Angeles Galaxy will need to capitalize on their opportunities when they host Vancouver, especially if they hope to come out of the game with all three points.

The Los Angeles Galaxy appear to have found an identity to their play especially after their home lost to Real Salt Lake. The fact that the LA Galaxy also were knocked out of the Champions League (CONCACAF) by the other team in California, Baja California, Club Tijuana. A strong home display against the Xoloitzcuintles gave the Galaxy their first win in the overall campaign 1-0 in the first leg. The second leg in Tijuana was where the Galaxy had their worst first half display yet. But the Galaxy in the second half of that leg began to show real character scoring twice but still losing 4-2 in the second leg and dropping out of the tournament 4-3 in aggregate.

The game last Sunday in Carson the Galaxy played with that same character and drive that they had in that second half in Tijuana. The upcoming season for the LA Galaxy should be a very enticing one. It is in fact really early in the season, but a strong start can help when it comes to qualifying for the MLS Cup in the end of the season. 

Photography credit to Angelica Orozco