CARSON, Calif. - Ante Razov and Francisco Palencia scored goals on either side of halftime and Brad Guzan stopped a late penalty kick as Chivas USA won their first-ever playoff game, 2-1 against Houston Dynamo at The Home Depot Center on Sunday afternoon.
Chivas will take their slim lead to Houston next Sunday for the second leg in the two-game Western Conference Semifinal Series. The match will be played at Robertson Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.
That Palencia was even able to play was a bit of a surprise. On Sept. 13, he sprained his right knee in a match at FC Dallas. He did not play the remainder of the regular season and used crutches to walk for a while.
By the Monday before the regular-season finale, however, he started some light training and resumed full training earlier this week.
Palencia was not the only returning injured player. Juan Pablo Garcia and Claudio Suarez missed the regular-season finale but returned for the playoff opener. Jesse Marsch, who suffered a concussion a week ago, was nearly given up for lost as late as Friday but returned to training on Saturday and started in his usual midfield role.
Chivas USA had the bulk of the early possession and scoring chances but came away emptyhanded. Palencia's return and a healthy Garcia and Razov seemed to spark the team from the start. The passing was crisp and on target as Chivas found space in Houston's defense. Nevertheless, the opening goal eluded Chivas.
Jonathan Bornstein ripped a 22-yard shot wide of the net after a nice buildup. Lawson Vaughn found Palencia in the middle of the field with a precise long ball and Palencia sent the ball over to an unmarked Bornstein but the rookie could not his the ball on frame.
Marsch caught Houston 'keeper Pat Onstad off balance when he sent a 30-yard free kick on goal in the ninth minute but the ball landed harmlessly on the top of the net.
Guzan made his first save on the quarter-hour when Dwayne De Rosario knocked an off-balance 19-yard shot on goal. The shot had little on it when Guzan scooped it up into his arms.
By far the best chance in the first half was when Garcia sent a through ball to Razov near the middle of the field and he broke clear of the entire Dynamo backline. At the top of the penalty area, Razov evaded Onstad but the ball skipped away from him. Houston defender Wade Barrett had been trailing the play and knocked the ball out of bounds.
From then on, Chivas struggled to find the crisp passing they had enjoyed early on. Houston pushed into the Chivas third more and sent some shots on frame, but Guzan stood firm.
At the stroke of halftime, Razov found some redemption. Adrian Serioux knocked Palencia down from behind just outside the penalty area. On the ensuing free kick, Garcia and Razov stood over the ball. Garcia charged at the ball but left it for Razov, and the club's leading scorer did not disappoint. With a delicate curling chip over the wall, Razov nestled the ball inside the right post and into the back of the net for Chivas' first-ever playoff goal.
The goal sent Chivas into the locker room with a well-deserved lead after a half of attacking soccer.
Houston pushed forward in search of more offense in the second half but to no avail. Ching was Houston's most dangerous player in the early stages of the second half but twice he could not beat Guzan.
In the 57th minute, Ching had an open header in front of the goal but hit the ball right at Guzan. Then, Ching had a breakaway in the 64th minute but Guzan charged off his line and knocked the ball out of harm's way.
In the 68th minute, Chivas coach Bob Bradley took out Garcia for Sacha Kljestan. Garcia appeared angry at the move and left the field slowly. On the sideline, he slammed a towel into an advertising sign and sat down on the grass.
The move, however, paid off immediately for Chivas. Kljestan swung a free kick to the near post from near the right touchline and Palencia flicked a header just inside the near post. Palencia raced to the corner, plucked the flag from the ground and strummed it like a guitar.
Houston answered quickly, though. In the 74th minute, Craig Waibel set Brian Mullan free behind the Chivas back line and he drove a low cross to the front of the goal. Ching split Jason Hernandez and Claudio Suarez and slammed a shot first-time into the back of the net.
Ching drew a penalty kick when Hernandez was whistled for a foul in the 85th minute after vainly trying to chase the Dynamo striker down from behind. De Rosario stepped up and slammed the spot kick on goal but Guzan guessed correctly and dived to his left to stop the shot.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
