With a solid effort on both sides of the field, Chivas USA beat Real Salt Lake 3-0 at The Home Depot Center on Sunday and left no doubts that 2005 is well in the past.
Ante Razov scored twice, Juan Pablo Garcia added one of his own and the solid Chivas defense held firm. Already, Chivas is well ahead of last year's pace. In 2005, the club did not win its first match until the sixth week of the season.
More than just the effort, the lineup was a stark contrast to the one the club fielded to start their inaugural campaign. Of the starters Chivas used in last year's season-opening 2-0 loss to D.C. United, only Brad Guzan started again on Sunday. In fact, Francisco Mendoza was the only other starter who was even on the roster then.
Overall, the match was in many ways a complete reversal from a typical 2005 match, when the club would often squander leads at home. Also, the offense was far superior than last year's version. At home, Chivas scored three or more goals just once, in a 5-1 rout of Real Salt Lake in July.
Razov and new strike partner Francisco Palencia had their first combination three minutes into the match when Razov fed Palencia near the left corner of the penalty area. But Palencia whizzed his shot past the right post.
Real Salt Lake 'keeper Scott Garlick did well to stop a header from Tim Regan. The newly acquired Regan placed a header off a corner kick right on frame but right at Garlick.
Palencia nearly broke through at the quarter-hour mark. Francisco Mendoza pounced on a loose ball inside the area and fed Palencia at the top of the six-yard box but despite being all alone in front of goal, Palencia only redirected the shot right at Garlick and the ball rolled harmlessly out of bounds.
Chivas USA maintained their attacking pressure and was finally rewarded for their efforts in the 21st minute. Claudio Suarez sailed a ball from near midfield to the top of the area. The ball bounced near the top of the penalty area right in Razov's path. With nothing but Garlick between himself and the net, Razov coolly carried the ball into the area and found the back of the net.
Four minutes later, Garcia struck with a magnificent goal. First-round pick Sacha Kljestan found Garcia open some 25 yards out. With a quick trigger and a soft foot, Garcia curled the ball over Garlick on the turn and into the left corner of the net.
While the attack came together rather quickly, the defense also stood firm. Suarez manned the center of the defense as if he'd been with Chivas since the beginning. Regan also played solidly alongside Suarez.
In the 41st minute, Regan stopped Real Salt Lake from opening their account. Guzan charged toward a loose ball but RSL's Sequeira slipped the ball past Guzan and toward an empty net. Regan, though, reacted quickly and cleared the ball off the line.
Razov nearly made it a three-goal game at the stroke of halftime but his 10-yard shot sailed just high of the goal.
In the 66th minute, Razov found the back of the net again. Razov collected the ball some 35 yards out from goal, shook loose from a marker and unloaded a 25-yard laser beam past Garlick.
Razov nearly had a hat trick but Garlick did well to stop Razov's 15-yard cannon in the 86th minute.
Chivas were without Carlos Llamosa, one of the club's high-profile signings, due to a strained hamstring.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
