CARSON, California — As preparations began for the deciding penalty shootout Sunday, Dignity Health Sports Park was a cacophony of chants. The Angel City Brigade and other LA Galaxy faithful shouted from their usual seats behind the north goal, joined by the LA Riot Squad in the opposite corner. “L-A Ga-la-xy (da da da-da-da-da) Much of the other stadium sang a different cheer, “Chiv-as! (da-da-da)”
The noise only increased as the shootout progressed, going into the first sudden death round. The Galaxy converted. Chivas couldn’t, with Gilberto Sepulveda choosing to go to goalkeeper Novak Micovic’s left and seeing the 22-year-old goalkeeper make a stop to win the shootout 5-4 after the match had ended knotted at two goals each after 90 minutes.
It was a night that was all about choices for many fans in Southern California.
In MLS since 1996 and known for bringing in Mexican stars like Jorge Campos, Luis “El Matador” Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, the Galaxy have won over a significant number of soccer fans in Southern California. Yet, most retain their loyalties to a team in Liga MX as well. With Chivas’ claim to be the most Mexican club and the fact that it’s one of the two most well-supported Liga MX clubs in the U.S., there was going to be plenty of crossover.
This year’s Leagues Cup brought them together for just the third time ever in official play and the first time in 17 years. Chivas had to win Sunday’s contest to advance in the competition.
“I’ve supported Chivas since I was eight. I moved to California in the 90s and when the Galaxy began we became fans in Carson,” said Julio Reynoso, who was wearing the red-and-white striped shirt of the Guadalajara squad. “Ever since, we’ve been coming to every game, throughout the five championships the Galaxy have won. I’m hoping for that sixth one … but It’s really tough because Chivas is my roots.”
Most fans made the same calculation as Reynoso - or perhaps support LAFC or another team in the U.S. to begin with. That led to the vibrant atmosphere not just heading into the shootout but throughout the entire game. Just when the ACB would fire up a rousing chant, Chivas fans would reassert themselves and produce the same level of noise they did after Alan Mozo’s opener in the 8th minute. A quick answer from Joseph Paintsil after what looked like a remote control-guided pass by Riqui Puig and a second-half screamer from Gabriel Pec meant Chivas nearly was eliminated before the shootout before Cade Cowell’s stoppage-time header sent the match to the spot.
While the matchup and the passion fans in California have for Chivas meant what felt like an away game in the team’s own home stadium, LA Galaxy manager Greg Vanney said his group enjoyed the experience.
“Between the atmosphere, the intensity and the game, you don’t get a ton of those during the course of the season, so any time you can get those they’re great exercises. The energy is wonderful,” Vanney said after. “Our fans were there loud in the ends, but certainly Chivas shows up. We knew that was going to be the case. They travel very well, and they have fans everywhere. It just made a great environment in the stadium.”
If there was one thing that dampened that environment, it was the absence of Chicharito, now playing for Chivas. No matter the jersey fans wore Sunday night, it seemed everyone was disappointed not to see Mexico’s all-time leading scorer.
The legendary forward developed in Guadalajara before moving on to an illustrious career in Europe that included stops at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. He joined the LA Galaxy in 2020, playing three seasons for the MLS team before making a romantic return to Guadalajara at the start of the year.
He was slated to start the contest and make his Leagues Cup debut. Previously, he’d missed the 2023 tournament with the Galaxy because of an ACL injury, and he sat out Chivas’ 2024 Leagues Cup opener with a quad issue. But he suffered a setback during warm-ups and was replaced by Ricardo Marin in the starting XI.
“A lot of us Galaxy fans are Mexican, so we’ll always respect Chicharito and any of the players who came through the Galaxy or Galaxy academy who have given it their all like Chicharito did,” said Christopher Barrios, who was manning the grill while tailgating with friends. “No matter who he’s playing for, we’ll always respect him at this stadium.”
Respect that, after Sunday, goes beyond a player who suited up for both teams and extends to what the fan bases showed in the stands. After all, some of those fans who were singing “Chi-vas” will be back in blue and gold before the summer ends.
Despite a night that ended in disappointment for many fans in attendance, some will see the silver lining this week. The team they love the most is out. But the Galaxy press on, hoping to return to Dignity Health Sports Park in the latter stages of the tournament and feel the same energy in the stadium, this time all rooting on the Galaxy.
