Chivas de Guadalajara used their home-field advantage to its full extent, defeating D.C. United 1-0 in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana series on Tuesday night at Estadio Jalisco to advance on away goals.
In last Wednesday's first leg at RFK Stadium, D.C. United played a man down for more than a half, and despite taking a 2-0 lead, saw Sergio Santana pull one back for Chivas heading into the second leg. That goal proved to be the decider, after the teams finished the series 2-2 on aggregate.
Ramon Morales rifled a left-footed shot past United goalkeeper Troy Perkins from outside the area in the 64th minute to give Chivas the win against a United squad that didn't quite show the dominance it has exhibited in recent weeks in MLS play.
D.C. came out looking a little flat on the road and Chivas looked to take advantage of that, coming out strong and putting pressure on the U.S. club from the very first minute. Omar Bravo found the target, but Perkins safely held the ball in his hands.
United was able to absorb wave after wave of attack in the first half, but failed to put Chivas on their heels as they sparingly mounted many attacks of their own, seemingly looking to protect the slim first-leg advantage.
In the 14th minute United nearly took an early lead through a Christian Gomez free kick that brought a diving save out of Chivas goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel. to make a diving save and in the 26th minute Devon McTavish challenged the Chivas 'keeper as well.
After the first-leg loss, Jose Manuel de la Torre was fired as Chivas coach and Efrain Flores took over, promising the kind of attacking soccer Chivas is known for. While they dominated much of possession in the opening 45 minutes, their best chances started to come after the break.
Santana put a shot just over the crossbar in the 46th minute, one of a pair of clear chances he wasted, then in the 52nd minute Sergio Ávila also missed after taking advantage of a United miscue in the back.
Chivas had not been shooting much from distance until the 64th minute, when Morales latched onto another turnover outside the area and let fly, hitting the back of the net and bringing the Estadio Jalisco crowd to life.
In their visit in March in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, a gaffe from Perkins allowed Chivas to score the eventual series-winner. It was a much different performance this time, as he denied a number of Chivas opportunities and lunged out to grab a cross in the 74th minute to keep it a 1-0 game.
Behind Perkins' play, United began to show signs of life as they chased the equalizing goal that would put United back into the lead in the series.
Luciano Emilio started to get more involved in the attack and create opportunities. He broke into the penalty area and blasted a shot that just barely flew over the goal.
Emilio's charge initiated a flurry of activity in the Chivas end for United over the final 15 minutes. Ben Olsen came closest, but Michel tipped his effort wide two minutes from the end, and the MLS side couldn't find the breakthrough needed to keep from once again leaving Mexico with a defeat.
Chivas will play Argentina's Arsenal de Sarandi in the next round, who defeated Goias of Brazil 4-3 on aggregate. United returns to league play to put their 11-game MLS unbeaten streak on the line Friday when they face the Kansas City Wizards on the road.
CD GUADALAJARA 1 - D.C. UNITED 0
Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Attendance: 50,000
Gregg Binder is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
