After a sluggish opening 70 minutes, Chivas USA's offense sparked to life as the Red-and-White scored three goals in the final 17 minutes to beat D.C. United 3-1 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan and Jorge Flores scored for Chivas, who came from behind to win a match for the first time in the club's four-year history. Chivas USA had come from behind to tie 15 times in their existence but had never come all the way back to win before Saturday.
The offense broke a bit of a dry spell for Chivas, as the club had scored just once in the previous two games. The three goals matched a season high but the result was more favorable this time around, as Chivas USA fell 4-3 at Columbus on April 12.
In what is now a common occurrence, though, Chivas USA was forced to make do without more players. Chivas USA had the following injured players unavailable: Maykel Galindo (groin), Alecko Eskandarian (groin), Jonathan Bornstein (knee), Lawson Vaughn (facial injury), Rapael Wicky (back), Claudio Suarez (hamstring), Shavar Thomas (hamstring), Carey Talley (quadriceps) and Alex Zotinca (knee). All but Zotinca have played for Chivas USA this season.
Midfielder Jesse Marsch dropped into the middle of a three-man backline to cover for the missing defenders -- the first time he had played as a center back, he said, since he was 13 years old.
Just seconds into the game, there was almost another injury-forced change. Starting left midfielder Justin Braun sent a through ball to the top of the penalty area. Ante Razov charged in and D.C. 'keeper Zach Wells sprang outside the area to try and stop Razov. The two collided and both lay on the ground well after the ball sailed over the end line.
Trainers from respective sides tended to the players as each eventually moved around with no apparent immediate negative effects.
In the seventh minute, United midfielder Santino Quaranta raced down the right side of the field and slipped a ball inside the penalty area. Bobby Burling though was in good position and cleared the ball out of danger.
It took a half hour for D.C. to strike first. Gallardo opened the scoring when he shook Marsch off and curled a 20-yard shot with his left foot high into the back of the net. It was Gallardo's third goal of the season.
For Chivas USA, the goal marked the sixth time in eight games this season that the opponent had opened the scoring first. Gallardo's goal was the latest, though, as the previous five teams found the back of the net within the opening 26 minutes.
Six minutes later Chivas USA appeared to equalize but Razov's headed goal was disallowed for offside.
To start the second half, Marsch moved back into the midfield as Chivas USA tried to begin to maintain possession. Burling and Jim Curtin manned central defense.
Chivas USA coach Preki went to the bench for the first time in the 58th minute. Eric Ebert, who started against New England a week ago, replaced Daniel Paladini as Chivas began go with a more familiar 4-4-2.
Atiba Harris, who started for the first time since April 12, had a few chances to control the ball in a dangerous area but could not find the handle on either attempt. Harris played more forward in the second half than he did in the first, when he played wide on the right of the Chivas 3-4-3 scheme. In the second half, he attracted some attention from United's backline and drew some fouls but could not easily find control the ball when it mattered until late in the match.
Chivas USA's Flores replaced Razov in the 67th minute. Flores immediately showed his worth. He slipped a pass to Mendoza on the left side and Mendoza ripped a shot on goal and forced Wells to dive and push the ball over the end line. Chivas USA won a corner kick, and then another after a D.C. defender cleared the ball over the crossbar, but the second corner went nowhere.
Marsch finally gave the home crowd something to cheer about in the 73rd minute. Harris tried but failed to reach a loose ball inside the penalty area. Wells, though, dived and failed to collect the ball. Marsch ran onto the ball and softly slipped it into the back of the goal.
Kljestan continued the late offensive surge. Harris tracked down a bouncing ball on the right flank and slipped a well-placed ball to the center of the box. Kljestan ran onto the ball and tucked it into the back of the net before heading toward a pocket of United supporters and karate-kicking his way toward a celebration.
Flores, the original Sueno MLS winner who had a goal and an assist in a recent swing through England with the U.S. under-20 national team, scored his first career MLS goal in the 82nd minute when he ripped a shot from the left side of the penalty area, set up by a cross-field pass by Harris after he was sprung free with a long ball over the top from Kljestan.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
