Chivas USA's defense continued a string of poor defensive performances on Sunday as the New England Revolution beat the Red-and-White 2-1 at The Home Depot Center.
Kenny Mansally and Taylor Twellman scored for the visitors as Chivas USA found little offense to counter the Revolution while Justin Braun scored in second-half stoppage time for the hosts.
Mansally's goal came in the 18th minute and marked the fifth time Chivas USA has given up the first goal this season. Twellman's goal came in his first game of the season, after missing the first seven games after undergoing knee surgery.
Chivas USA played with a makeshift backline. Lawson Vaughn (facial surgery) and Jonathan Bornstein (knee) will each miss six weeks or possibly more with respective injuries while Claudio Suarez was suspended after his red card a week ago in Houston.
Chivas USA coach Preki inserted Bobby Burling in Vaughn's spot on the right side of the defense and placed Eric Ebert in Bornstein's usual left back role. Jim Curtin, meanwhile, started alongside Shavar Thomas in central defense.
Burling, who made his MLS debut, nearly opened the scoring in the third minute but his rebound attempt off a Chivas USA corner kick sailed high over the crossbar.
For the first quarter hour, Chivas USA dictated the pace of the match. New England dropped back and allowed the hosts to control a bulk of the possession. The Red-and-White had one decent chance but Jesse Marsch's attempted volley deflected off a Revs defender and over the end line.
New England's tactics paid off in the 18th minute. Kenny Mansally took the ball from some 30 yards out and darted inside the penalty area. Mansally held off Jim Curtin's challenge and tucked a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
The Revs thus became the fifth team to score first on Chivas USA. All five goals have come within the first 26 minutes of games. The goal also set up a challenge the club has never overcome. In their four-year history, Chivas USA have never won a match in which the opposing club scored first.
Moments after the goal, Marsch was booked after knocking Mansally down in the center of the field.
Chivas USA continued to maintain possession throughout the half but the attack sputtered well before reaching the penalty area. The Revolution did well to thwart Chivas USA attacks by dropping numbers behind the ball and forcing Chivas USA to turn the ball over.
Brad Guzan kept the Revs from doubling their lead in the 44th minute. On a Revs counterattack, Mauricio Castro scampered across the top of the penalty area and ripped a shot on goal. Guzan dove and knocked the ball over the crossbar.
New England's Twellman made his season debut when he replaced Mansally at halftime and showed why he is fifth on the all-time MLS scoring charts soon enough. Steve Ralston lobbed a ball over Chivas USA's defense. Twellman collected the ball, carried it toward the penalty area and beat Guzan.
Preki took out veterans Marsch and Ante Razov in the second half. Along with Maykel Galindo, whom New England did well to contain, Justin Braun and Atiba Harris finished the match at forward but none of the trio created many dangerous chances until it was too late.
Late in stoppage time, Galindo got behind Revs 'keeper Matt Reis and found Braun in front of the goal. Braun knocked the ball into the back of the net to cut the lead in half, but it wasn't enough to see the Chivas winless run extended to five games.
