After a challenging first season, Chivas USA accomplished many firsts in the club's second and third years. They reached the MLS Cup Playoffs and won a playoff game for the first time in 2006 and won the Western Conference and won 15 games for the first time in 2007.
But even in Year Four, the Red-and-White recorded another memorable first. For the first time ever, Chivas USA came from behind to win a league match as the Red-and-White beat D.C. United 3-1 on Saturday.
Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan and Jorge Flores scored for the Red-and-White, the goals coming in a 10-minute span over the final 17 minutes of the game.
"The mentality of the group was pretty good," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "We showed that even with the young guys we threw on the field that nobody is quitting, that everybody is committed. I think this should be a tremendous confidence booster for the whole group."
The club had come from behind to draw 15 games in club history but had never won a game in which Chivas USA trailed at any point during a match. Five times this season Chivas USA had surrendered the first goal and the club had an 0-4-1 mark to show for it.
Against D.C. United, though, the mentality and the mindset were ultimately different, and so was the result.
"It feels good and it's just a testament to the guys on the field," Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "It wasn't pretty by any means but good teams find a way to get three points and we were able to do that tonight."
Marcelo Gallardo put United ahead in the 30th minute after he shook off Jesse Marsch and ripped a 20-yard shot into the back of the net. Preki changed the club's tactics around in the second half, as he scrapped his initial 3-4-3 formation for a more familiar 4-4-2 alignment. Also, Marsch moved from central defense to central midfield.
Because of hamstring injuries to Shavar Thomas and Claudio Suarez, Marsch moved to center back for the first time since he was a 13-year-old with Racine United in his home state of Wisconsin.
"To be honest, I wasn't that thrilled about it but at this point we are so depleted I just wanted to do whatever I could to help the team win," Marsch said. "If Preki felt that that was our best option then I was willing to do that."
The move to the midfield helped Marsch and it ultimately settled the team down.
"I think once we switched in the second half, it kind of felt a little bit like ourselves. Having Paulo and myself in the middle has been a foundation for more than a year," he said. "It wasn't like the first half was that bad but I just made one bad mistake and it cost us a goal."
As Chivas USA plugged along in the second half, the club controlled the tempo and possession of the ball. Ultimately, it led to increased opportunities and more confidence. It was Atiba Harris who ultimately seized the opportunity.
After a spotty first 70 minutes, Harris found his groove. In the 73rd minute, Harris ran onto a ball inside the penalty area. Harris forced D.C.. goalkeeper Zach Wells off his line, but Wells could not control the ball. Marsch pounced on it and slipped it into the back of the net.
Marsch said he did not necessarily feel like he was searching for atonement after his first-half defensive miscue.
"Going into the midfield and fighting hard and trying to get some plays together, whether I would have scored or not, I think that was the way to get our team back in the game," said Marsch, who scored his second goal of the season.
The goal immediately gave Chivas USA a shot of adrenaline and confidence.
"When we scored a goal," Guzan said, "it was like 'OK. We're back in this thing. Let's get going.'"
Harris and Kljestan got it going. Harris found the ball down the right side of the field and had several options. Kljestan knew which one his teammate preferred.
"Atiba got a good ball. His first touch was good into the goal and I could read he wanted to lay it across and not go for goal because it wasn't the right angle," Kljestan said. "He slipped a perfect ball across and I was just coming along full speed."
Flores scored the insurance goal in the 82nd minute, as Kljestan set Harris free with a ball over the top and the St. Kitts and Nevis international again laid it across the goal.
Chivas USA held on and won a come-from-behind match for the first time in club history and won for just the second time this season.
Preki, though, said he felt a bit of reprieve more for his players than anyone else.
"I was more also relieved for the group," Preki said. "We needed something to get us going, something that is going to get us to believe again that ... we can play the way we played last year."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
