In an intense match at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Chivas USA suffered its first loss in nearly four weeks as the New York Red Bulls earned a 1-0 win Thursday night on a second-half Juan Pablo Ángel goal.The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Chivas USA, who last suffered defeat on 5/11 vs. the New England Revolution.
Despite the result, Chivas USA (4-5-2, 14 pts) remains in a three-way tie (with Los Angeles and Houston) for 2nd place in MLS’s Western Conference, pending the results of this weekend’s matches.
Chivas USA Head Coach Preki left his starting lineup unchanged for the second match in a row, going with the same eleven that earned wins at Colorado (5/24) and vs. Columbus (5/31).
Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who started, logging 90 minutes and registering 2 saves, played less than 27 hours after appearing in the U.S.’s 1-0 loss to Spain Thursday in Santander.
Tonight Chivas USA was missing three (3) Senior Roster players due to injury: FW Alecko Eskandarian (L groin strain); FW Maykel Galindo (R groin strain); and DF Alex Zotinca (R knee ACL surgery), plus MF Raphael Wicky (R ankle sprain) and DF Lawson Vaughn (facial fracture), who did not make the trip. A trio of previously injured defenders – Jonathan Bornstein (L knee LCL sprain), Claudio Suárez (R hamstring strain) and Shavar Thomas (L hamstring strain) – were available on the 18-man gameday roster, though none saw action. It was Bornstein’s first appearance on Chivas’ gameday roster since 5/3. (Chivas USA's latest injury report is available here.)Said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki: “We had six, seven, great chances in the second half that we don’t connect on and the final pass isn’t good enough or the shot goes straight to the goalkeeper. We didn’t manage to break them down. They had one play in the second half and that’s it. We were solid defensively. We didn’t give too many things away. That’s how it goes.” (Click here for a complete quote sheet from tonight's match.)
Chivas USA GK Brad Guzan and MF Sacha Kljestan (Huntington Beach, Calif.) will remain in New Jersey to train with the U.S. National Team ahead of Sunday’s match vs. Argentina at Giants Stadium.
The rest of Chivas USA’s squad and technical staff returns to Southern California tomorrow Friday and will enjoy a weekend off before resuming training next week at The Home Depot Center.
Chivas USA will seek to resume its winning ways when it hosts Real Salt Lake next Saturday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. Tickets, including the incredible Kids Pack, start at just $14.
For tickets or more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit http://www.cdchivasusa.com/.
