CARSON, Calif. - After Chivas USA beat the Los Angeles Galaxy by 3-0 on Aug. 23, the club was faced with a challenge: avoid a letdown at home.
Now, after having beaten the Galaxy again by 3-0, Chivas USA have a similar task again, except this time the setting changes.
Sitting on top of the Western Conference table on 43 points, Chivas USA will travel to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to face Colorado on Sunday afternoon. Players expect nothing short of a challenging match.
"We have to regroup," striker Ante Razov said. "Every game is going to be harder and harder down the stretch."
With 43 points, a point ahead of Houston Dynamo entering the weekend, Chivas USA can return home with a playoff spot in hand. If Chivas USA win and Columbus does not, the Red-and-White will have clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season.
That only has served to add to Chivas USA's confidence. Already the club's mentality and confidence have toughened and risen. As results continue to go their way, players expect both to improve.
What Chivas USA players must do now is avoid from indulging too much in their confidence.
"We cant be too confident going into Colorado. We can't be too cocky and have a letdown," midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. "It's a real big game in Colorado. If we take three points from that, we have two very important games we think we can win at home after that."
After Colorado, Chivas USA return home to play host to Kansas City (Sept. 22) and Chicago (Sept. 29), teams that the club has gone 1-1 against this season.
First, though, the Red-and-White must deal with a Rapids side also in contention for a playoff spot. Though once safe at fourth place in the Western Conference, Colorado now must contend with Eastern Conference teams for a playoff spot under the league's new playoff format.
The Rapids enter the weekend even with Columbus on points at 28 but one behind the Fire, who hold the eighth and final playoff spot.
Colorado will enter Sunday afternoon's match fairly well-rested. The Rapids last played a match on Sept. 8, when the Rapids fell at the LA Galaxy by 3-1.
Even with Colorado battling for much-needed points, Chivas USA players said they are in position to do well so long as they maintain their focus.
"They need points," Razov said of the Rapids. "We're going to expect a tough game. If we have the right mentality, we'll do all right."
Chivas USA also find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Typically, the club has been fighting for other teams to move up the standings and into a better playoff position. A year ago, Chivas USA could not gain enough points to overtake Houston. That proved to work against the club as Dynamo hosted the second and decisive Western Conference semifinal match, won 2-0 and took the series 3-2 on aggregate.
Now entrenched in first place, Chivas USA players want to keep it that way.
"Every game now is the most important game we'll have all season," Kljestan said. "We're in first place now and if we want to stay in first place we have to keep winning or tying."
