Breakthrough Victory for Chivas USA
The reasons were plentiful for Chivas USA forward Ante Razov to be happy Thursday night after a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy.
Not only did the veteran forward score both goals to lead the second-year franchise to its first-ever win over its Home Depot Center roommates, he took over possession of the scoring lead in Major League Soccer and his team pushed its franchise-best winning streak to three games.
But most of Razov’s thoughts were with his family thousands of miles away. Razov’s grandfather, Ivan, died Sunday at 85 of natural causes in his native Croatia and the Chivas forward played his first game since hearing the news.
“That was for him,” said an emotional Razov, who dedicated the game to his grandfather’s memory.
Chivas USA Coach Bob Bradley said he wasn’t worried about the kind of effort he would receive from Razov, despite the circumstances.
“I’ve known Ante so long and I understand his emotions,” Bradley said. “He’s a great guy ... and he has a big heart and his family is really important to him. I think the idea that he was going to come out on the field tonight and think a little about his family and his grandfather and play his best was all part of his thinking.”
For Chivas USA (4-4-1), the victory also meant the end of the burden of having lost to the Galaxy in all six of the teams’ previous meetings, including five MLS games and one in the U.S. Open Cup. Earlier this season, Chivas held a 1-0 lead over the Galaxy only to give up two goals in the last six minutes of a heartbreaking loss.
“This was very important for our organization to knock the Galaxy off and put that behind us and be able to move forward,” Bradley said. “We are understanding what it takes to become a better team.”
That’s something the Galaxy (2-9-1) better figure out soon or an already-bad season could get worse in a hurry for the defending MLS Cup champions. The Galaxy’s franchise-record losing streak reached seven games with Coach Frank Yallop a loser in his debut after taking the job Wednesday from the fired Steve Sampson.
“It was a disappointing result, but I can’t fault the guys for their effort,” Yallop said. “I think the guys gave me everything they had.”
Razov’s second goal Thursday was his league-best eighth, but it was the first one that drew raves.
In the 15th minute, Chivas’ Francisco Mendoza sent a left-footed cross to the middle of the field. Razov, who was cutting across the top of the penalty area from the right wing, met the pass with his left foot and sent a roaring shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who never had a chance.
“Panchito hit a great ball to me and I was able to put it away,” Razov said. “I know my grandfather was watching me and that was a gift from him.”
Six minutes later, Razov came through again, albeit less spectacularly.
This time he took a pass to the right from rookie midfielder Sacha Kljesten. Razov took a quick left-footed shot that caught Hartman leaning the wrong way and the ball rolled into the opposite corner of the net for a 2-0 Chivas lead.
The Galaxy pulled within 2-1 in the 28th minute when Herculez Gomez scored on what seemed to be a harmless shot.
After some confusion on a set piece, Gomez dribbled across the middle and launched a low bouncer that Chivas goalkeeper Preston Burpo didn’t see right away.
By the time Burpo reacted, the ball had found its way into the lower right corner.
