Jesse Marsch scored in the 31st minute, and his lone strike stood up as Chivas USA defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Sunday evening at The Home Depot Center. For Chivas, it was their third consecutive shutout and the fourth in their last five games, while Real Salt Lake were held without a goal for a third game in succession.
Chivas USA was trying to continue their current run of form with another win, and put some pressure on the Western Conference leaders. Fresh off a 3-0 win against in-stadium rivals Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas were trying to avoid an emotional letdown. There was little doubt that they were running on all cylinders though from the opening kickoff.
In just the third minute, Francisco Mendoza starting making trouble for the Real back four from his left wing position. The diminutive midfielder whipped in a great cross, freezing goalkeeper Nick Rimando on his line. Ante Razov ran onto the pass and brought it down, but shot right into the chest of Rimando from a sharp angle.
Salt Lake tried to answer right back and nearly opened the scoring three minutes later. Atiba Harris beat Jason Hernandez on the left and dribbled to the end line. Harris crossed the ball along the ground, where Robbie Findley was waiting at the back post, but the rookie's effort missed wide of the open net.
From that point on it was all Chivas. Mendoza continued to pester the RSL defense and in the 10th minute played another ball into the penalty area. This time the ball was deflected, but bounced right to Ramon Nunez, who hit a first-time volley that had to be saved by Rimando.
Chivas continued to press, and came close again in the 18th minute. The Red-and-White worked the ball beautifully through midfield culminating in a nice pass from Nunez that slipped in Sacha Kljestan behind the backline. Kljestan dribbled in on goal, but a hard-charging Rimando made yet another save.
Chivas finally broke through in the 31st minute. From a corner, RSL did a poor job of clearing a ball in their box, and the ball went back to Razov outside the right edge of the box. He sent a low ball right back into the area toward the near post, where Marsch got in front of his marker and flicked the ball past Rimando with his left foot to give the home side the lead.
The game continued to be dominated by Chivas USA as the Salt Lake attack was resigned to playing hopeful through balls right up the center of the defense with little effect. Meanwhile, Chivas were running riot through the middle third and created another chance in the 37th minute.
Chivas USA earned a free kick from 25 yards out. Razov stepped over the ball and fired a left-footed shot over the wall, but a well-positioned Rimando made an easy save to keep his side within one.
The home side picked up right where they left off after the break. In the 52nd minute. Kljestan broke in on the left side and looped a cross towards the back post. Nunez attempted an acrobatic overhead kick, but missed badly.
Salt Lake finally got the offense going again 10 minutes into the second half. Chris Brown came on as a substitute and had an immediate impact. Brown started a counterattack, passing off to Kyle Beckerman, then making a long run through midfield. Beckerman found him with a long cross over the top of the defense and Brown attempted a header from the top of the area, but missed just wide of the target.
The second half continued to lack any real offensive punch, but Chivas did manage a half-hearted effort in the 70th minute. Nunez worked himself free on the right side and played a cross to the back post. Mendoza rose up to try and head the ball back where it came from, but Rimando made the save look easy.
Razov gave the Salt Lake 'keeper a much more difficult time. The Chivas striker took the ball on the right flank and dribbled into the middle. Razov beat Ritchie Kotschau on the dribble and tried to flick a shot past into the back of the net, but Rimando made yet another save to keep his sides hopes alive.
The lack of finishing nearly came back to bite Chivas, as Real created a great opportunity against the run of play in the 78th minute Chris Wingert played an early cross from a deep position in midfield. The driven cross went to the near post where Beckerman got a foot to the ball, but directed his shot just inches wide of the post.
RSL continued to look for a late equalizer and got their first shot on goal in the 84th minute. Harris fired from inside the penalty area, but Guzan stood tall in his first test of the night, and that was all Chivas needed to ensure the full three points.
The win moves Chivas to a tie for second place in the Western Conference with FC Dallas, both teams two points behind Houston Dynamo, and Chivas with two games in hand. Real falls further behind in their bid to get to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time ever, now with just 12 points from 19 matches.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
