Listen to post-game audios from:
Escuche las reacciones del partido de:
Chivas USA scored once early and once late to earn a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday afternoon at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., giving the Red-and-White a boost in the team’s search for a fourth consecutive spot in the playoffs.
The Red-and-White improve to 11-9-3 (W-L-T) on the season, good for 36 points and a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Colorado Rapids. Chivas USA sits four points behind Houston, two behind the LA Galaxy, and one behind Seattle Sounders FC, but have two games in hand on the three teams it trails in the standings.
Forward Maicon Santos scored his first goal in a Chivas USA uniform in the 10th minute of the match, hitting a first-time shot off a pass from fellow striker Justin Braun. Maicon now has a goal and an assist in four matches with the Red-and-White, while Braun earned his first assist of the season in his first game since June 6, missing time due to a concussion.
Despite having many other chances and limiting New England to just two shots (and none on goal), Chivas USA was not able to grab a second goal until the 94th minute, when a Sacha Kljestan pass sprung Eduardo Lillingston in alone on New England goalkeeper Matt Reis. Lillingston touched the ball past Reis but was fouled by the keeper, and Kljestan slotted home the resulting penalty kick to ice the match.
Goalkeeper Zach Thornton lowered his league-leading goals against average to 0.82 on the season, having conceded just 16 goals in 1755 minutes of MLS action. Thornton is also tied for the league lead in shutouts with Houston’s Pat Onstad, with nine, and is also tied with San Jose’s Joe Cannon for second on the all-time MLS shutout list, with 67 clean sheets in his career.
The Red-and-White travel this weekend for a vital Western Conference clash at Seattle Sounders FC, kicking off on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12:00 noon PT on Fox Soccer Channel. The team then returns to face Chivas de Guadalajara in the historic ‘ChivaClásico’ on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 8:00 p.m. PT at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit cdchivasusa.com or call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.
Chivas USA Head Coach Preki, on today’s match: “Right now it’s all about points, right now it’s all about getting a position in the playoffs, and every game and every point is important, and today is no different. I’m very happy we got three points.”
The Red-and-White will also face Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8:00 p.m. PT at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. The ‘ChivaClásico’ is part of Guadalajara’s 2009 U.S. tour, and will be the first time the two teams have ever faced off in the United States. For more information, or to buy tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1, visit cdchivasusa.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
PHOTOS: Juan Miranda/Chivas USA
