SuperClasico finally super, classic

There are derbies in England — soccer matches that pit two teams from the same city. Derbies are between Manchester United and Manchester City, for instance.

Then there’s the Honda SuperClasico, or El Clasico Angelino, the derby between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. The superclasico is derivative of name of the derby between Mexican League teams America and Chivas Guadalajara — El Superclasico.

Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy share the same soccer facility, the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca., for home matches, hence the derby. It is also the only derby in MLS and began with Chivas USA’s entry into MLS in 2004. The Hondo SuperClasico was created in 2008 when the auto-maker agreed to sponsor the series.

The Galaxy hold the all-time advantage, 12-3-6, but for the most part the matches have been uneventful. That is, until this year’s postseason.

The two clubs, meeting for the time ever in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs, played to a 2-2 draw on Nov. 1, 2009, in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal. Sunday’s match would thus determine the seasons for both – one would be moving on in the playoffs, the other would not.

Never before had that been a part of the SuperClasico equation. Never before had one match meant the entire season. Finally, the two sides had everything to play for.

On Sunday, both sides played freely, creating offensive chances and thunderous shots on goal. It seemed as though both goalkeepers would be up to task until the 73rd minute when the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan slammed a confident penalty shot into the netting past Chivas USA’s Zach Thornton.

The Galaxy’s retooled defense — featuring rookies Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DelaGarza and keeper Donovan Ricketts — kept Chivas out of the back of the net over the final 18-plus minutes and the match ended with a 1-0 result for the Galaxy.

Finally, North America had been treated to its first derby. It’s first SuperClasico.

Hit list continues for USMNT

U.S. Men’s National soccer team’s Jay DeMerit, who played well in the United States’ run to the final of the Confederations Cup, will be out an yet to be determined amount of time after having his left cornea replaced.

You read that correctly. R-E-P-L-A-C-E-D.

How might something like that happen, one might ask?

In DeMerit’s case, the Watford captain felt “dust or grit” get under the contact lense in his left eye. The eye became infected and the cornea had to be replaced. Doctors in England replaced his original cornea with a prothesis on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009.

The prothesis, for your information, is created with a transparent collagen material.

DeMerit is the third starting XI USMNT player, and second central defender to be sidelined because of injury in the last seven days.

Forward Charlie Davies sustained seroius injuries in a car accident on Oct. 12. He remains in a Washington D.C. hospital. Central defender Oguchi Onyewu ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee in the waning moments of a 2-2 tie with Costa Rica two days later in a World Cup qualifying match. He’ll have surgery on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

So Davies will be out at least a 12 months, Onyewu will be down 6 months and DeMerit is gone for 4 to 6 months.

The World Cup, which the U.S. qualified for by winning CONCACAF, begins in South Africa in June. That’s a little more than eight months from today. Davies is out, that’s a given. Onyewu and DeMerit, though should be available if they’re match fit. So, perhaps, not all is lost.

Another serious blow to USMNT

United States National Soccer Team player Oguchi Onyewu sustained a torn patellar tendon in his left knee on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 and will be sidelined 3-to-6 months.

The injury, which took place during the United States’ 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifying match in Washington D.C., comes only days after teammate Charlie Davies was seriously injured in a one-car accident that killed another passenger.

What is going on here? Why has misfortune and injury befallen the team now? Has the team stumbled into some bad luck? Some mystic bad karma?

Judging from Wednesday’s miracle 2-2 tie with the Ticos, the Yanks’ luck seems to be just fine. Johnathan Bornstein’s headed goal five minutes into stoppage time salvaged the point for Bob Bradley and Co., and also secured the CONCACAF region for the U.S. — by a single point, 20-19 — over Mexico.

Davies injuries can’t be explained except by physics. The car was traveling at ‘x’ rate and his body suffered ‘y’ injuries. He’ll be lucky if he’s able to walk by the World Cup, let alone play competitive soccer.

Onyewu’s injury happened as he was turning awkwardly to defend an entrance pass from a Costa Rican player. The severity of the tear in his knee tendon is not known at this time but estimates indicate that he could return in time to play in South Africa next year.

If that estimate is accurate, it is extremely fortunate news for Bob Bradley. Suppose Onyewu isn’t ready in time. Who would assume the central defensive position? Carlos Bocanegra? Yikes. Chad Marshall? Ouch. Jimmy Conrad? Oh no.

Onyewu (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) is the lone player who asserts a physical presence for Bradley. He intimidates forwards and practically frightens midfielders. He towered over every other player in CONCACAF qualifying and is among the biggest in the world.

If he’s not ready in time, look for the U.S. to get pushed around before going home early.