CARSON, Calif. - Though ultimately satisfying for Chivas USA, Saturday's 2-0 win against FC Dallas was not exactly a goal-scoring outburst. Still, the score could have been different had it not been for a risky maneuver by Dallas 'keeper Dario Sala.
Nevertheless, the effort was enough for Chivas USA players to feel rejuvenated about their offense and their ability to be dangerous on the attack in the coming weeks.
"We're getting a lot closer," midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. "Our movement tonight was better. We had a lot more chances, a lot more clear chances. We still didn't put them away but we're still creating a lot more than we had in the past."
Chivas USA's victory snapped a streak of four games in which the club scored just one goal apiece. In that span, Chivas USA had compiled an 0-2-2 mark.
The lack of goals was a carryover of a lack of scoring chances as Chivas USA's offense sputtered. Of the four goals, two were on set pieces - Ante Razov's free-kick goal against Columbus on May 12 and Claudio Suarez's close-range goal on a scramble after a corner kick against the Galaxy on April 28.
Maykel Galindo scored both of the Chivas goals in the run of play.
Against FC Dallas, the attack was a bit more fluid in pushing forward and seemed to produce more chances than it had in earlier games.
"We've concentrated on getting more guys into the attack but now can we make the right plays we need to make," midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "That part is a little bit like it was in past games but also the numbers and the movement part I think was better."
After three matches, Chivas USA seemed to have a somewhat potent attack. Chivas USA opened the season with a 2-0 win against Toronto FC and also beat Real Salt Lake by 4-0 two weeks later.
In both matches, Chivas USA had several other scoring chances and could have won by wider margins.
But three matches into the season is not enough time to draw strong conclusions. Neither, for that matter, is eight.
"There is a lot of work everywhere," striker Ante Razov said. "I don't think that anything is a finished product. It's only the eighth game out of 30 so we have a long way to go in general."
What is most glaring now is the club's ability to finish, players said.
"We had chances. We're just not putting them away yet," Kljestan said. "We're just not moving them towards the goal."
Generating scoring chances has improved and the two-goal output against FC Dallas showed that. But like in their other victories, the score could have been more lopsided in favor of Chivas USA.
"Our movement in the attack was better," Marsch said. "There were some good movements and so I thought going forward we had more options. It wasn't just one guy at a time. In the end, the sharpness is still the thing we're looking for."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
