Claudio Suarez tried to clear a cross out of the area but the ball bounced right to Donovan's feet and the U.S. international slipped the ball into the back of the net. Gomez, meanwhile, somehow found space between several Chivas USA defenders and knocked in a cross from a few yards out.
Though a distressing trend, Chivas USA players could not immediately diagnose the problem.
"That comes down to individual responsibility, mentality, being ready to compete," Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "In the second half, we don't come out well."
Overall, Chivas USA have allowed eight goals in seven games. The club's two wins were both shutout victories as Chivas USA beat Toronto FC by 2-0 and Real Salt Lake by a 4-0 score.
But when the club has been scored upon, players said it has been as much their own doing as anything.
"I certainly feel like we make the same mistakes, half-clears and stuff like that," Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "It frustrates me that at the beginning of halves we have letdowns."
Worse, Chivas USA put in more effort to get their goals than their opponents do in scoring against them.
"It frustrates me that we give up easy goals especially when we work so hard to get our chances," Marsch said. "Some of it just comes down to individual sharpness; an individual at any given point during the game making a play makes a difference and we're not getting that right now."
While other MLS teams seem to be getting the right bounces at the right times, Chivas USA players said their team has not enjoyed such luck in the early part of the season.
"I don't want to feel sorry for ourselves but you look around the league a little bit but you see some teams getting breaks and not playing very well and getting three points. I feel like we fight for every single play we get," Marsch said. "Hopefully we get some good breaks but you also have to make your own breaks too."
One thing Preki was not about to point the blame at was superstition. For the first half of Sunday's game against the Galaxy, Chivas USA wore their usual home jerseys. But for the second half, players changed into shirts with Comex emblazoned on the front.
"It was a little bit unusual but it was something we had to do. You can call it superstitions or whatever but you have to go on the field ready to play," he said. "It doesn't matter what shirt you are wearing or what number you are wearing. Those things don't play the game."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
