CARSON, Calif. - After a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 28, Chivas USA coaches and players demanded more from themselves.
In three games since, the mentality, effort and focus had gradually improved, they said, but none paid off with three points.
On Saturday, however, Chivas put together a complete effort and were rewarded with a 2-0 win over Western Conference leaders FC Dallas.
"The most important message for tonight is that we felt we really needed three points tonight and we got it," Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "There are little things we can talk about but I thought overall our mentality was pretty good and we defended hard and played hard. That's the thing about this team: we have a bunch of guys who work hard. Now it's just getting the soccer plays right."
Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov did the damage as each forward scored in the second half. Although both goals were scored from long distances, Galindo's was more traditional. He put a shot past FC Dallas' Dario Sala from 30 yards out while Razov scored a goal typically seen on frozen ponds as he essentially scored an empty-net goal in stoppage time.
The win was Chivas' first since April 21 and it kept alive a three-match unbeaten streak. After the game, Chivas head coach Preki looked more relaxed than he has in more than a month. Still, his joy derived from the happiness he felt for his players.
"I'm happy because the group has worked really hard," Preki said. "I'm really happy for them because in the last two or three weeks in training, they were having a really good mentality and I knew it was just a matter of time before we were going to get the results."
Chivas' play is gradually improving, players said. The effort was strong but the finishing was better Saturday than it has been in recent games. Galindo and Razov scored the goals but the offense played a bit more fluidly than it had in 1-1 ties at Columbus and against the Galaxy.
"We're pleased with the way we played. Not satisfied for sure but it's a step in the right direction," said Razov, who scored his fourth goal of the season. "We're really close to being a really good team. It's right there. Except for the first 20 minutes against the Galaxy, we've been in every game. It's just a matter of maybe a little luck and the ball bouncing our way. Maybe tonight is the start to that."
Razov bagged his goal when Sala roamed the center of the field in stoppage time. Razov happened to be at the right place at the right time.
"They were pushed up. Paulo (Nagamura) cleared the ball. I knew Sala was out and I didn't know if were going to collide. He paused for a second and I was able to get it past him," Razov said. "As soon as I got it over I knew it was going in."
Galindo, though, created the eventual match-winner on his own. As FC Dallas' Juan Toja tried to carry the ball out of his own third, Galindo slid and dispossessed the Colombian. He fired a 30-yard shot past Sala into the back of the net.
"He worked hard tonight," Preki said of Galindo. "He ran back, made plays and you can see it in the goal. He worked himself for the goal. He pressed the defense, won the ball, good shot. Give him credit. He has been responding to some of the things we want to do here."
The goal was Galindo's fifth of the season, good for third place in the overall goal-scoring table. Still, goal-scoring glory does not drive Galindo.
"All five have been special for me. What motivates me the most is the way this team fights," Galindo said. "We showed our mentality tonight and a desire to improve."
The win was also the first shutout since the club's last win, a 4-0 rout of Real Salt Lake. Central defenders Claudio Suarez and Shavar Thomas played inspired in the center of the field, especially the captain, teammates said.
"Our two center backs played great down the stretch. In a 1-0 game like that it can get a little hectic ... but I thought those two guys played solid," Marsch said. "Claudio really stepped up and started being vocal and started making plays and that was great to see. We're always trying to get Claudio to play a bigger role because he's kind of a soft-spoken guy. He was a true leader tonight and I think it showed and it made a difference for us."
Now, Chivas USA will take a week off from MLS action and will play a friendly against USL side Seattle Sounders on June 2. Grabbing a win entering a bye week was clutch, players said.
"It's big for us. We're starting to come over that hump," Guzan said. "It's not like we're a bad team. We're a good team but a couple of breaks weren't going for us in earlier games ... This game is huge in more than one way."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
