From Year One to Year Two, reaching the playoffs was an acceptable and worthy goal for Chivas USA.
And while the club was ultimately disappointed in its first-round playoff exit, a postseason berth was an acceptable end to its second season.
Those days are over.
"We know that with the guys we have in this locker room, the coaching staff and the attitude we have, we feel that we can go to MLS Cup and no longer making the playoffs is good enough," goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "We want to make sure we do something and that's obviously bringing home a trophy."
Chivas USA have long set their sights on a much loftier goal than reaching the playoffs. The postseason begins on Saturday in Kansas City as the Red-and-White will meet the Wizards in the Western Conference semifinals, but if the season does not end with a trip to MLS Cup on Nov. 18, players said they will have seen this otherwise successful season as a letdown.
Already the club has set record highs in wins (15) and points (53). Chivas USA also won the Western Conference regular season title as well. Just two years ago, Chivas USA finished last in the Western Conference standings. Now, the club finished first in the conference and will try and carry the momentum over into the postseason.
But the club did fall short of one goal.
"The regular season has been quite successful but quite a few of us had our sights set on the Supporters' Shield," midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. "It's quite disappointing for me because it's something I wanted to achieve and we couldn't do it."
D.C. United won the Supporters' Shield after Chivas USA lost to Colorado in the penultimate game of the season. The result, though, forced Chivas USA to try for a result against Houston in the season's final game and the Red-and-White came through with a scoreless draw against the defending champions.
Players said the match showed their grit and determination as they were forced to play the final 50 minutes with 10 men. Like many other clubs found out down the stretch, Chivas USA were difficult to beat.
"Ever since the beginning and ever since we've been having this good run from the All-Star break, there is no team that when we play our soccer can beat us," Kljestan said. "We can really take that next step towards MLS Cup. We really feel like we have a good chance and anything less is going to be a big disappointment for our team this year."
Over the last three months of the season, Chivas USA compiled a 7-1-5 mark on their way to the Western Conference lead as the Rapids were the only club to fell Chivas USA.
Many of the club's younger players played pivotal roles during that stretch as Kljestan (two goals, eight assists) and Guzan (seven shutouts) in particular elevated their game.
For the club to reach MLS Cup '07, more of the same is vital.
"I hope our young team kind of understands what is going to be required of us to be one of the favorites in the playoffs, not just chasing everybody, and know how to handle those games," veteran midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "We've got a lot of work to do yet."
Now that Chivas USA have began preparing for the Wizards, the mentality has remained the same as it has been during the season. Players are aware of the task at hand and of the challenges the postseason can bring.
"It's going to be a hard road. We understand that," Guzan said. "People say all the time once you get in the playoffs it's a new season. That's kind of what it's about and once that regular season ends everyone starts from scratch. It's 0-0 and everyone is on even terms."
While the regular season was successful and will be a high standard for next year's squad to achieve, what has happened will have little bearing on what will go down in the playoffs, players said.
"We'll be proud of the season we've had and we've put in a lot of hard work," Guzan said. "But we've got to understand that the work isn't done."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
