When Chivas USA traded the first overall pick in this year's SuperDraft, the club was soundly criticized.
With U.S. under-20 national team star Marvell Wynne there for the taking, Chivas instead elected to trade the pick to the then-MetroStars for Jason Hernandez and the fifth overall selection.
Chivas nabbed Seton Hall standout Sacha Kljestan with that pick, and then took UCLA product Jonathan Bornstein with the first pick in the fourth round.
The draft could not have gone any better for the Red-and-White. Not only did Hernandez blossom into a reliable central defender, Bornstein and Kljestan finished 1-2 on the club in minutes played. Both are finalists for the MLS Rookie of the Year award.
"Both are good players. Both start with the right mentality," Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley said. "They wanted to learn and more importantly they're quick learners. They pick up things every day. You could see that they are growing on the job."
Now, the duo must take another step in their on-the-job training. Both will play in their first playoff game Sunday as Chivas USA host Houston in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series.
While players such as Ante Razov and Claudio Suarez play key roles for Chivas, it has been Bornstein and Kljestan who have helped carry the team at times during this season. Kljestan started all but one game in central midfield and along with Jesse Marsch formed one of the league's top central midfield pairings. His seven assists were second on the team.
Bornstein, meanwhile, has contributed greatly at several different positions. He started the season at left back, but by July Bradley had moved Bornstein higher on the field to help fill holes caused by injury or suspension to other players. Bornstein responded with his best month and was named MLS Player of the Month for July after scoring four goals in six games.
Now, however, the stakes change.
"It's a totally different season now," Kljestan said. "We've just got to take things from the veterans who have been around. Some of them have won championships and some of them have made it to the finals and they know the playoff system."
Relying on veteran players will be key for Bornstein and Kljestan as well as second-year players Francisco Mendoza and Brad Guzan, all of whom will play in their first playoff game on Sunday.
"We talk about it and we're really excited," Bornstein said. "We've got each other pumped up and if we see maybe something we think is going wrong or going really well, we'll try to help each other out even though we've never done it."
With players such as Francisco "Paco" Palencia and Claudio Suarez to draw experience from, the task of seeking out experienced players for help becomes easier for Kljestan and Bornstein.
"Ante has won a championship. So has Jesse. I'm sure Paco and Claudio have won quite a few championships with a similar playoff system down in Mexico," Kljestan said. "Those are the guys we need to follow and me and Johnny need to learn from them because they've been here before and they've won it."
Since the start of the season, Marsch has taken Kljestan under his wing and the two have become close on and off the field. Kljestan might have to cover for Marsch on Sunday, though, as Marsch is trying to overcome a concussion suffered in last week's regular-season finale. Without Marsch, Kljestan will likely pick up some more defensive responsibilities.
Whether he's on the field with them or watching from the sidelines, Marsch said he has faith in Kljestan and Bornstein.
"Our rookies for the most part are guys that have good on-the-job experience now and have been a big part of our success," he said. "I know that they'll be ready."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
