Over the last few years, Chivas USA players have been proud to point to a collective effort as the club has risen in the Western Conference ranks.
But when the group collectively plays without intensity and passion, it can backfire.
On Sunday, Chivas USA learned that the hard way. FC Dallas handed a flat and emotionless Chivas USA squad a 2-0 loss. Afterward, the Chivas players were at a loss for words.
"I don't know what to say. I'm embarrassed for the team right now," Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "I don't know what the story is for our group but we just can't get it going. I don't have any answers right now."
The final statistics show somewhat encouraging numbers. The Red-and-White outshot FC Dallas 11-6 and put five shots on goal. Chivas USA had 13 corner kicks and held possession throughout the match.
But the club's effort on the field, however, was as flat as the paper the statistics were printed on.
"It was a tough game for us tonight, probably one of our poorer performances since I've been with Chivas," striker Ante Razov said.
The lack of intensity and fire stumped Chivas USA coach Preki. If anything, Sunday's effort was not a continuation of the week's training sessions.
"I wish I could tell you," Preki said when asked about the club's emotionless match. "Going through a regular week, I thought the guys were sharp actually. They were working hard. Even though we had quite a few young guys on the field maybe we could (have) gotten something today."
The club ran out of fire from the opening whistle. Kenny Cooper scored in the fifth minute on a nifty sequence that started from the right side of the field. Dax McCarty swung a cross to the left side of the penalty area. Ricardinho rose and headed the ball to the front of the goal. Cooper slammed the ball into the roof of the goal.
In any other game, perhaps the club could have pointed to the early goal as a source of the problem. But Chivas USA's Brad Guzan said it had no bearing on the match.
"I don't think it did affect us because from the first minute to the 90th minute we didn't have any emotion," Guzan said. "So whether they scored in the fourth or fifth minute or in the 80th minute, from top to bottom tonight we just didn't have it."
The club did not have their full contingent either. Missing were Sacha Kljestan and Francisco Mendoza due to suspension as well as Raphael Wicky and Alecko Eskandarian to injury.
Without the playmakers in the midfield, Preki was forced to use Lawson Vaughn in a central midfield role. Vaughn, though, was coming off injury as well and missed the last two games with hamstring issues.
Vaughn, though, did not use his unfamiliarity with the role as an excuse.
"I haven't played there for this team before. I'm a soccer player and I trust my abilities and my skill to be able to play in different positions," Vaughn said. "It changed my role a little bit because I had be out wide, I had to get up a little higher on their guys outside. Finding the ball is a little bit different."
Kraig Chiles and Justin Braun earned their first starts of their MLS careers. It took time for the youngsters to settle in but once they did the club started to find a semblance of rhythm.
Braun and Maykel Galindo tried to connect on several plays and it nearly paid off late in the first half as the Red-and-White had four shots in the final seven minutes of the opening half.
"We created some good opportunities," Preki said. "I thought Galindo had three or four good chances that he could have pulled even and it would have been a different game."
In the second half, Chivas USA maintained possession as FC Dallas sat back and let the hosts control the ball. Still, even with Preki bringing on Atiba Harris and Ante Razov, Chivas USA pieced together little offense.
Abe Thompson put the game away when he scored on a counterattack in the 80th minute. A late scissors kick volley attempt by Razov hit the right post but otherwise the match lacked electricity and emotion.
"It was one of those days that in a lot of ways I felt that we didn't find enough energy, enough commitment to get a result today," Preki said. "I'm going to look at the video and see what's going on and assess things. Obviously we have a big game next week against Galaxy here and see how we are going to approach that game."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
