Last Clasico of the Year, First at Avaya Stadium
Friday, Avaya Stadium will host its first California Clasico and once again it looks to have the makings of a classic. Both teams are in top form and getting ready for a game that is usually close no matter where either team currently sits on the table. After a disastrous July and early-August, the Earthquakes seemed to have found the chemistry on the pitch they lacked all season thanks to new signing Anibal Godoy. The Panamanian midfielder was not the flashiest signing of the transfer window and had many Earthquakes fans taking to social media to voice their displeasure. That displeasure quickly turned into adoration as the Earthquakes have not conceded a goal in the three games that Godoy had started while winning all three.
Godoy’s passing numbers are staggering in the 270 minutes he has taken the pitch as a member of the Earthquakes. His passing percentage of 91.3%(whoscored.com) would put him just below Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and his average of 49.7 passes per game(whoscored.com) convincingly leads the Earthquakes. Once again it is a very small sample size but after several seasons of suffering Earthquake fans are happy their beloved team has finally found that goal scoring chemistry, if at least for three games.
The Galaxy come to Northern California not only with good chemistry, but holding an advanced degree in chemistry from the MIT Chemistry Department. Since the debut of Steven Gerrard, a 5-2 beatdown of the Quakes in the last edition of the Cali Clasico, the Galaxy have won four of five MLS games while outscoring their opponents 13 goals to seven. Both teams are playing at full steam and they are on a collision course to meet on Friday.
Every MLS fan has a reason why their teams derby is the most compelling in the league and the California Clasico is no different. This rivalry is as old as the league itself and has provided some of the most dramatic finishes in the 19 years of MLS. Earthquakes fans will never forget the 2012 edition of the Clasico, the first of a series of once-a-year games in 50,000 seat Stanford Stadium. The Earthquakes stunning comeback from a 3-2 halftime deficit was capped off with an angry David Beckham kicking the ball at Sam Cronin as he lay on the ground after making contact with A.J. DeLaGarza’s leg. That led to a yellow card for Beckham and a scuffle on the field between himself, Quakes keeper David Bingham and mascot “Q”. There is also the mythical 2003 playoff edition of the Clasico. Facing elimination and a four goal deficit the Earthquakes rallied in front of the home crowd at Spartan Stadium to knock LA out of the playoffs. The Earthquakes went on to win their second, and since then only, MLS Cup.
The playoffs will not be on the line Friday but you won’t be able to tell from the atmosphere at Avaya Stadium or the passion of the fans in the stands. Even the players will be going at each other like animals in a cage that is too small. But that is what the California Clasico is, a war for dominance. Right now each team has won a battle in the war and each on their home soil. Friday the decisive battle takes place in the Earthquakes home soil. Avaya Stadium will be a rockin’ fortress but the Galaxy will not be intimidated by any hostile atmosphere and have one of the most potent lineups in league history. It’s going to be fun.
