Having already clinched third place in the Western Conference, Chivas USA finished the 2006 regular season with a 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center on Sunday.
Brent Whitfield accounted for Chivas USA's only offense with an early goal. Jafet Soto's late goal leveled the match for RSL.
Jacob Peterson ensured that this match would lack intrigue even before the game even started. Peterson scored a late goal and helped Colorado to a 3-3 draw at Houston on Saturday. The result finalized the top four Western Conference playoff spots. Houston clinched second place with its point while the Rapids locked up the fourth and final playoff spot.
Chivas, meanwhile, were ensured of finishing in third place while Real Salt Lake was eliminated.
Chivas' lineup was lacking some star power as Juan Pablo Garcia was given time to rest an adductor injury while Claudio Suarez was given a well deserved night off. Ante Razov, though, returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Sept. 23. Razov missed the last two games with hip and groin injuries.
Rookie Drew Helm started up top alongside Razov as he earned his first career start.
Whitfield put Chivas on top first as he was at the right place at the right time. With RSL defender Kevin Novak on the ground injured, Chivas swung the ball around the penalty area. Francisco Mendoza wound up with the ball on the left side of the box and fired a shot on goal. RSL goalkeeper Scott Garlick dived and stopped the shot but the rebound rolled to the right side of the six-yard box. Whitfield poked the ball into the back of the net.
Whitfield's goal was his first career MLS goal. Novak, meanwhile, left the match following the goal and was replaced by Nelson Akwari.
Real Salt Lake nearly answered in the 27th minute. Jeff Cunningham found space inside the penalty area and fed Chris Klein at the top of the penalty area. Klein ripped a shot from just inside the area but the ball slammed off the right post and safely out of harm's way.
Atiba Harris was inches away from leveling the match in the 36th minute. Harris slipped past Chivas' defense and got his foot to a cross from Cunningham. The ball floated over Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan and nearly bounced over the goal line but Chivas defender Jason Hernandez knocked the ball out of danger.
Chivas' Jesse Marsch took a hard hit in the head toward the end of the first half. Harris flattened Marsch at midfield and the veteran midfielder's head forcefully hit the ground. After trainers attended to Marsch, he stood up and tried to walk off the field but took a few steps before sitting down.
Marsch was instead taken off the field on a stretcher and immediately replaced by Orlando Perez.
Guzan kept Real Salt Lake scoreless with a pair of late saves. First, he stopped a 20-yard free kick from Soto. Minutes later, he made a save on a long-range shot from Cunningham. With RSL threatening in the 87th minute, Guzan plucked a cross from Andy Williams out of mid-air as Cunningham was awaiting at the far post.
Nevertheless, Soto ensured Chivas would not close out the regular season with a victory. Soto's well-struck half volley -- nearly a bicycle kick as a cross went behind him -- equalized the match minutes before what would have been Chivas' 11th win of the season.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
