A Tale of Two Teams: Chivas Struggling While Galaxy Are Flying High

About a month ago, if you were to ask anyone which Los Angeles team is the hottest, they probably would have answered the Dodgers. Once you clarified your question to mean the hottest soccer team, they no doubt was have answered Chivas USA.

If we look back to the beginning of June, Chivas USA were 8-2-3 in MLS play and were the team to beat in the Western Conference.

The Galaxy on the other hand, had only one victory in their first 12 matches. Although they were picking up points by tying 10 of those 12 games, they looked just plain ordinary.

But oh, how the tables have turned.

In their last eight games in all competitions, Chivas USA are an abysmal 0-7-1, they're only point coming from a draw with San Luis in the SuperLiga. They have lost four straight MLS matches and now find themselves in fourth place in the West. And most alarming for manager Preki is their lack of offense.

In their last four MLS matches, Chivas USA have only managed to find the net once.

Adding insult to injury, recently traded forward Alecko Eskandarian has found the net twice in three games for cross-town rivals LA. Preki also sent forward Atiba Harris to FC Dallas in exchange for midfielder Marcelo Saragosa.

On paper, the goats seem to have the attacking talent necessary to create chances and score goals, but the offense hasn't been clicking lately. Veteran striker Ante Razov has scored 114 goals in MLS play, but is yet to take the field this year as he is still recovering from ankle surgery.

Maykel Galindo was capped 35 times for Cuba before defecting during the 2005 Gold Cup. Eduardo Lillingston spent 12 seasons in Mexico's First Division. Midfielder Sacha Kljestan has all the requisite skills to become one of the premier playmakers in MLS.

But despite the plethora of attacking talent, they have been unable to get the job done as of late.

Lillingston and Galindo, who started the goats last match against New England, only have a total of eight goals between them this year. Of those eight, Lillingston has scored six.  Seattle Sounders preferred front line of Fredy Montero and Nate Jaqua, in contrast, have scored 15 between them.

Kljestan, who has played in 12 matches this year, has so far only registered one assist.  Last year Kljestan totalled seven assists, to go along with five goals. He is still yet to score this season.

For as dismal as Chivas USA have been lately, the Los Angeles Galaxy have been just as good. Whereas Chivas are 0-4-0 in their last four MLS matches, Galaxy are 4-0-0. With their win over New York on Saturday, coupled with Chivas' loss to New England, Los Angeles have moved up to third in the Western Conference, dropping Chivas into fourth.

The Galacticos have been led, surprisingly, by their defense. On their four-game winning streak the only goal they have conceded came via a Juan Pablo Angel penalty kick in their 3-1 win over the Red Bulls.

Rookie defenders Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza have been revelations for Bruce Arena. Gonzalez has started every MLS match for LA so far this season, and DeLaGarza has replaced veteran Tony Sanneh as first choice right back.

Veterans Gregg Berhalter and Todd Dunivant have played admirably, as the Galaxy have gone from having the league's worst defensive record in 2008 (62 goals allowed) to the league's fifth best this year (19 goals allowed).

The Galaxy's offense has been boosted by the return of Landon Donovan, having missed most of the last month of MLS play while playing with the USA in the Confederations Cup.  David Beckham also made his long-awaited return in their 3-1 win over NYRB last Thursday. In this last weekend's 2-2 draw with AC Milan, Goldenballs assisted on both Galaxy goals.

If the defense can hold steady, and Donovan and Beckham are able to continue pulling the strings on offense, Los Angeles will definitely be in the picture come playoff time.

Chivas USA on the other hand, are sinking fast. Hopefully Preki can right the ship before they find themselves near the bottom of the table.