Goats take West lead with first Super Clasico title over L.A.

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09/14/2007 - Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In just its third season in Major League Soccer, CD Chivas USA has gone from worst to first.

The Mexican owned, Los Angeles based club took over the top spot in the Western table, as well as winning the third annual Super Clasico - the trophy given to the winner of the L.A. derby against the Galaxy - with an impressive 3-0 victory over its Home Depot Center neighbors Thursday night.

The Goats proved just how far they have come in three seasons, since that 4-22-5 opening campaign in 2005 in which the club finished last in the league, by dominating the Galaxy most of the game. Despite the fact that Chivas USA dominated the match, it only had a 1-0 lead after an Ante Razov tally early in the first half as time was winding down. But two minutes from time, Chivas busted the game open, with Francisco Mendoza blasting home a goal on a breakaway before Laurent Merlin made it 3-0 in stoppage time.

With the win, the Goats capture their first Super Clasico title by going 2-1-1 against L.A. this season, bringing the all-time series between the two clubs to 7-3-2 in favor of the Galaxy. Chivas (13-6-4) outscored L.A. 8-4 this season.

There was some bad blood between the two teams after Chivas' Alex Zotinca and L.A.'s Kevin Harmse were ejected in first half stoppage time of the last fixture between the clubs after a hard challenge by Jesse Marsch on David Beckham led to a scrum at midfield.

That seemed to carry over into the opening minutes of the game as Peter Vagenas fouled Marsch hard, leading the Chivas USA midfielder to throw the ball at the Galaxy player. Vagenas took exception to that and pushed Marsch. Referee Alex Prus put a quick stop to the shenanigans when he issued and early card to Marsch in the second minute.

After that, Chivas controlled possession of the ball and took the play to the Galaxy (4-12-5) for most of the first half.

Goats' leading scorer Maykel Galindo had the best early chance when he out- muscled a defender at the top of the Galaxy penalty area, cut inside past Vagenas and fired a shot on goal. L.A. goalkeeper Joe Cannon stood tall on the play, however, and made the close-range save to keep the game scoreless 20 minutes in.

There was nothing Cannon could do just three minutes later when Razov scored his ninth goal of the season and 107th of his MLS career to make it 1-0.

The U.S. international took a long pass from defender Lawson Vaughn from the defensive third and drove to the top of the box. With Razov flying in, defender Abel Xavier closed and cut off the inside lane, expecting Razov to cut inside and blast a shot with his dominant left foot. Razov instead glided past the defender, beating him badly, and fired a shot with his right, just inside the far post past Cannon.

That was how the score stayed until the 88th minute when Mendoza scored just his second goal of the season to double the lead. Sacha Kljestan played a ball through the Galaxy defense - which was pushing forward for the equalizer - to Mendoza who broke in on Cannon and unleashed a low, hard shot with his left foot into the back of the net.

Merlin added his first career MLS goal a minute into stoppage time when a Galaxy defender cleared a ball to him at the top of the box after a flurry of action inside. The Frenchman took one touch and blasted a shot off the far post and in to make it 3-0.

Chivas, which currently holds a one point lead over Houston in the West with two games in hand, is back in action Sunday when it travels to Colorado while the Galaxy hosts the Dynamo the same day.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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