Chivas USA set new highs in their third year of existence.
Two years after finishing in last place, Chivas USA won the Western Conference, featured the league's best home record and second-best defense and scored a club-record 46 goals.
But that will count for little when the Red-and-White step onto The Home Depot Center field for Saturday's Western Conference semifinal match against the Kansas City Wizards.
"This year we've done well for ourselves," defender Orlando Perez said. "We managed to win the Western Conference. I believe everyone feels the same -- we don't want to stop now. We want to take this all the way. We feel we have the team to do it."
Chivas USA lost at Kansas City by 1-0 last weekend and needs at least a two-goal win to take the series outright. If Chivas USA finishes regulation with a one-goal victory, the game will go into extra time and possibly penalty kicks. A draw of loss and Kansas City will move on to the Western Conference Championship.
But for a team facing elimination, players have not seemed nervous or anxious when talking about the match, and that has a lot to do with returning home, players said.
"There is something about playing at home where you're more comfortable on the field and stuff where you can be a little bit quicker and a little bit sharper and so hopefully we'll be able to do that and capitalize," midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "I want us to be confident but not cocky. The way that game went should make us feel good, should make us like we can create some chances and capitalize on them."
Chivas USA's chances may come but the players on top will be a change from the regular season. Leading scorer Maykel Galindo (12 goals) has battled a strained abdomen for weeks and was unable to play in Kansas City. Galindo had a cortisone shot this week with hopes of returning and has trained but will likely be a game-time decision, coaches said.
Ante Razov (11 goals) is out, though. Razov sprained his knee on Oct. 11 and underwent a blood-treatment procedure with hopes of advancing his rehabilitation but Chivas USA coach Preki ruled Razov out after Tuesday's training session.
The duo's absence puts pressure on backups Laurent Merlin, John Cunliffe and Ramon Nunez to produce and for midfielders Sacha Kljestan and Francisco Mendoza to contribute more to the attack.
Injuries have not derailed the club's confidence, though.
"We have a couple of key injuries with Ante being out, Galindo being out and to be honest ... it's hard to replace them on the field, their presence and what they bring to the game," Perez said. "We still have the quality on the bench and with the guys we can bring in. I still believe we can do it and I'm sure everyone else on the team believes we can win on Saturday and take this all the way."
For Chivas USA to overcome the Wizards, they must overcome the 1-0 deficit in the aggregate score. The scenario is the opposite of the club's lone postseason experience. A year ago, Chivas USA took a one-goal lead to Houston for the club's second leg of the Western Conference semifinals but allowed two late goals and fell by an aggregate score of 3-2.
This time around, the club will have the home-field advantage but need to approach the game calmly, players said.
"The key for us is going to be if it doesn't come right away to not panic," Marsch said, "to be patient, to find our gaps, to be patient mentally and to be patient with the ball as well and then while we're doing that make sure we don't get exposed on the counter. That's still what they have, some pace on top."
Chivas players said they expected the Wizards to try and play a defensive style and protect their lead. But Marsch said that after the anticipated chaos in the opening minutes, Chivas' class would rise to the top.
"The first 15, 20, 30 minutes might look a little bit hectic and crazy like it did in Kansas City," Marsch said. "We should all expect that but in the end I don't think they have the fitness or personnel to really get after us for 90 minutes on our big field in this hot weather, the whole bit."
With the league's Goalkeeper of the Year in Brad Guzan, a finalist for Defender of the Year in Claudio Suarez and second-year standouts Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, Chivas USA's lineup might be more complete than Kansas City's. Add to that The Home Depot Center, where Chivas USA compiled a 10-1-4 home record, and the scales may be titled in the Red-and-White's favor.
"They have some experienced guys on the field but they also have some inexperienced guys on the field," Marsch said. "When it starts hitting the fan a little bit, hopefully our composure and being at home and our fans and everything can help us out and whether it's an ugly win or a pretty win just squeak it out."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
