In what is billed as a potential MLS Cup matchup, Chivas USA will play host to the only other club in the league as hot as the Red-and-White.
Surging D.C. United will visit Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in an MLS Primetime Thursday contest that could give the winner a firm grip on the top of its respective conference.
Chivas USA players know what kind of team stands in their way.
"They are certainly one of the best teams in the league. It's going to be a hard test for us. Both teams are on a pretty good run," Chivas USA forward Ante Razov said. "They punish teams for mistakes. They've got some good, skillful players and we definitely have to be aware where they are at all times."
Chivas USA has gained maximum points from their last three games. After shutout wins at Toronto, the Galaxy and against Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA has had 10 days to prepare for D.C. United.
In the past, little Chivas USA did before matches against D.C. has mattered. Chivas USA is 0-5 all-time against D.C. United and is the only club in MLS that Chivas USA has not beaten in its two-plus years of existence.
"They are a good team. We haven't beaten them or whatever -- we don't really think about that," Preki said. "We're thinking about playing a good team and how to match up with a good team and hopefully the guys will be ready for the game."
Earlier this year, Chivas USA fell behind 2-0 before pulling a late goal back but eventually lost 2-1. If the club's 0-5 mark against the four-time MLS champions plays any factor, it could be in Chivas USA's favor.
"Probably makes us want to win more, get some points from it," Razov said. "We've had some tough games over there, last year and this year. We've got to just step up and take some points from them."
Both clubs feature a pair of successful newcomers. Maykel Galindo leads Chivas USA in goals with 10 while United's Luciano Emilio is tied for the league lead with 14.
The match also pits the best road team against the best home team in the league. D.C. United has compiled a 6-5-1 mark away from RFK Stadium and has scored 15 goals, the second-best road scoring mark in MLS, while allowing a road-low eight goals.
Chivas USA, meanwhile, has a 7-0-1 home record and has allowed a league-low two goals in those games. Chivas USA also has a 3-1 loss and a 3-0 win against the Galaxy in "road" matches at The Home Depot Center.
While United features a loaded arsenal in Emilio, MLS all-time leading goal scorer Jaime Moreno and the resurgent Ben Olsen, it is midfielder Christian Gomez who pulls the strings and serves as catalyst.
The task of marking Gomez will likely fall to Jesse Marsch, who said that playing against the Argentinian playmaker requires 100 percent focus for the full 90 minutes.
"I've played so many games against him over the years that I feel like 'Man, I'm playing a good game against him and he's not getting much' and then he's the kind of guy who only needs one play," Marsch said. "So he'll get away from you one time and then all of sudden it's a goal and then you're like 'How in the world did that just happen.' It's not just me. It's got to be a team effort and team understanding but like I said he can make something out of nothing so you've got to be alert."
Marsch said Chivas USA would have to make things difficult for D.C. in order to have success.
"You see them and you feel like teams aren't making it hard enough on them," Marsch said. "We're going to try and make that a focus and keep doing what we've been doing with the ball but also try and be a little bit different on how we're hard on their key guys and how we're hard on their whole team."
Chivas USA won't have much time to recover after D.C. as the club will entertain New York on Sunday. Afterward, much more of Chivas USA's character and caliber will be known.
"We'll know what kind of team we have after these games," Razov said. "We have a chance to go up the table even more and put ourselves in a good position."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
