Chivas USA saw their long struggle continue, an Abe Thompson goal 10 minutes from the end giving FC Dallas a 2-1 victory at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.
Matt Taylor's goal just after the start of the second half canceled out Roberto Mina's first-half strike and seemed to be enough to give Chivas a share of the points against the best team record-wise in MLS. But the rookie, who had come off the substitutes' bench midway through the half, gave FC Dallas the victory and extended the Chivas winless streak to nine games, though they had owned much of the second half.
As he has done in every game since taking over, Chivas USA coach Hans Westerhof once again tinkered with his lineup. Esteban Arias made his MLS debut, coming into defense, while Orlando Perez was given a central midfield role.
At home for a second game in a week, FC Dallas started strongly. After winning an early free kick, Arturo Alvarez found Aaron Pitchkolan for a header, but it was cleared. Then in the 13th minute left back David Wagenfuhr nearly found Mina in the area, but Chivas defender Ezra Hendrickson shepherded the ball to safety.
The home side then took the lead in the 18th minute. Bobby Rhine found Oscar Pareja, who sprung Mina for a long run up the center of the field. It carried him into the area before hitting a right-footed shot past Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan into the upper left corner for the early goal.
Chivas immediately responded with a good chance, Thiago Martins carrying the ball up the left flank before belting in a nice in-swinger that forced FCD 'keeper Scott Garlick to dive to his left to make the save.
Hector Cuadros filled the playmaking role for Chivas USA, and he started to have some influence on the game. First he got on the end of a Francisco Mendoza feed, then a few minutes later he found an unmarked Ramon Ramirez after a long run for a left-footed blast that was just slightly off-target.
Perez made a key defensive stop just before the half as Mina and Pareja came in on him alone 2-on-1. But the Chivas man stood Mina up to allow for much needed help to arrive and the threat was wasted.
Despite seeing the Hoops control much of the first half, Chivas went into the break down just a goal - and it didn't take long to take advantage.
Matt Taylor pulled his team level with his first goal of the season, finishing off a lovely tic-tac-toe passing movement from Martins to Cuadros to the second-year striker, who hit a low shot past the diving Garlick.
Chivas USA continued to press the game and dominate, first seeing a shot from new substitute Antonio Martinez saved by Garlick in the 72nd minute. Later Francisco Gomez saw a shot go just past the target.
Guzan had done his part to keep the score level, saving a left-footed drive from Wagenfuhr in the 73rd minute, but he had no answer in the 80th minute.
Alvarez motored up the left flank to find Wagenfuhr, who sent in a cross to 61st-minute substitute Thompson. His header found the back of the net for his second professional goal.
Guzan then kept it close with one more quality save after another substitute, Ramon Nunez, dribbled through the Chivas defense and forced the rookie 'keeper to make a nice two-handed save.
But despite winning a couple of set-pieces late in the match, Chivas went down to defeat for the seventh time in the last nine games, all since their last victory, a 1-0 win against Real Salt Lake on May 7.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: David Wagenfuhr (FC Dallas)
Ron Goode is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
CD Chivas USA (1-11-3) vs. FC Dallas (9-2-3)
June 22, 2005 -- Cotton Bowl
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Roberto Mina 3 (Oscar Pareja 1, Bobby Rhine 3) 18
CHV -- Matt Taylor 1 (Hector Cuadros 3, Thiago Martins 1) 48
DAL -- Abe Thompson 2 (David Wagenfuhr 1, Arturo Alvarez 1) 81
CD Chivas USA -- Brad Guzan, Esteban Arias, Ezra Hendrickson, Ryan Suarez, Orlando Perez, Douglas Sequeira, Hector Cuadros (Francisco Gomez 79), Ramon Ramirez (Armando Begines 72), Matt Taylor, Thiago Martins, Francisco Mendoza (Antonio Martinez 67).
Substitutes Not Used: Javier Barragan, Arturo Torres.
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Thiago Martins 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Thiago Martins 2); FOULS: 13 (Esteban Arias 3); OFFSIDES: 3 (Matt Taylor 2); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Francisco Gomez 1, Antonio Martinez 1); SAVES: 6 (Brad Guzan 5)
FC Dallas -- Scott Garlick, Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Greg Vanney, David Wagenfuhr, Aaron Pitchkolan, Simo Valakari, Oscar Pareja (Ramon Nunez 59), Roberto Mina (Abe Thompson 61), Arturo Alvarez, Bobby Rhine (Carey Talley 85).
Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Cassar, Chris Gbandi, Steve Jolley, Ty Maurin, Alex Woods, Alex Yi.
TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Arturo Alvarez 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Arturo Alvarez 2, Roberto Mina 2); FOULS: 11 (Simo Valakari 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Roberto Mina 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Arturo Alvarez 5); SAVES: 4 (Scott Garlick 4)
Misconduct Summary:
CHV -- Ezra Hendrickson (caution; Pushing, Holding) 39
DAL -- Aaron Pitchkolan (caution; Reckless Foul) 46+
CHV -- Ramon Ramirez (caution; Reckless Foul) 64
DAL -- Ramon Nunez (caution; Delaying a Restart) 91+
Referee: Andrew Chapin
Referee's Assistants: -Kermit Quisenberry; Paul Scott
4th Official: Troy Travis
Attendance: 8,672
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-92-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
