CARSON, Calif. - With a chance to seize their first-ever Western Conference title, Chivas USA instead got caught on a late counterattack and saw the Colorado Rapids hand them a 2-1 loss on Sunday afternoon at The Home Depot Center.
At least, though, the club lost its first home game now instead of later.
"This one hurts, you know what I mean?" Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "But it's good that it happened now and not in three weeks so we'll regroup, we'll get ready for (Houston)."
Chivas USA failed to clinch the Western Conference but could still do so before Saturday's season finale against Houston. The defending MLS champions play at Real Salt Lake on Monday. A loss to RSL would hand the conference title to Chivas USA.
However, Chivas USA's loss handed the Supporters' Shield to D.C. United with one week to go in the regular season. United have 55 points and Chivas USA have 52, but even if United lose their season finale to Columbus and Chivas beat Houston, D.C. holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
With a chance to pull level with United for the best overall record and the possibility of clinching the Western Conference regular crown, Chivas wanted to take care of business themselves on Sunday. With the game even at 1-1 in the 90th minute, Chivas USA tried pushing forward for a late winner and instead got caught on a late counter.
"A tie didn't really do anything for us. Whether we tied or lost it, it really didn't matter except for our home win streak or what not," Guzan said. "At that point, we're pushing for a win and you have to. In this scenario, you try and get three points from the game. Unfortunately we didn't get any."
The match should never have been in question, coaches and players said. The club generated enough clear scoring chances that could have resulted in a lopsided victory.
"I honestly thought from the first moment if we would have scored one first, we would have scored three or four," Chivas USA coach Preki said.
Instead of scoring in the first half, Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and shoddy marksmanship kept the visitors in the game. Maykel Galindo had a shot in the first minute but Coundoul turned him away. Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein each had clear looks on goal in the first half but sent their opportunities wide of goal.
"We had some clear opportunities but it seemed like every shot we took we put it right at (Coundoul) or it was blocked," Orlando Perez said. "We should have done a better job."
Chivas USA benefited from a red card in the first minute of the second half. Brandon Prideaux was sent off for knocking down Galindo on a breakaway. But even with the man advantage, Chivas USA failed to capitalize initially.
Instead, it was Colorado who took advantage. On a set piece in the 64th minute, Jose Cancela floated a ball into the penalty area. Ugo Ihemelu slipped past the defense and pounced on a loose ball and scored his first goal of the season.
"We get lazy on a set piece," Guzan said. "We talked about it all day that we had to be sharp on set pieces and we get lazy on a set piece and lose a guy and all of the sudden the guy is eight yards away and it's a tap-in."
Chivas USA pushed forward in search of an equalizer and the club got it form an unlikely source. Orlando Perez, who entered the game with two goals in his eight-year career, buried a ball in the 78th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
"Sacha got the ball and I made a run behind the defense. He played a great ball over the defense into my path and I had time to take a touch, look up where the goalie was at and just place it," Perez said. "For what it's worth, it's always good to score but I'm still disappointed with the result."
With a point seemingly in hand, the club tried to attack and fight for a second goal and the full three points. Instead, the Rapids capitalized on the extra spaces Chivas USA left in their defensive third.
Conor Casey found the ball on the left side of the field and sent a pass across the area to Omar Cummings, who easily knocked in the match-winner on the far post.
The goal snapped Chivas USA's club-record 16-game regular-season home unbeaten streak.
"It seems like we're pushing forward to get that second goal to win and they catch us off balance in the back and they come and score," Perez said. "It's hard to swallow but now we have to put this game behind us and look forward at Houston."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
