Although he has only been with Chivas USA for a month, Paulo Nagamura is feeling right at home with his new club.
The Brazilian midfielder was acquired from Toronto FC on May 4, and on Saturday he scored his first goal of the season -- the only goal as Chivas USA went to Toyota Park and came away with a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Fire.
"It wouldn't matter if I did not score a goal (Saturday)," Nagamura said. "These guys have been making me feel at home and they have been great to me."
Nagamura's winning goal came in the 79th minute on an unassisted tally inside the penalty area. Nagamura was able to get the ball after Ante Razov passed it to fellow forward Maykel Galindo just in front of the Fire's goal.
Galindo and Fire defender Dasan Robinson fought for the ball and as the two competed, it squirted toward the left of the box. Nagamura darted toward the loose ball and then drilled it past Chicago goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
"Maykel and the defender were going after it and then I saw the defender fall," Nagamura said. "I'm not sure if Maykel passed it or if got free but when I saw it I ran to it and I knew I had a good chance to get it and put it past him (Pickens)."
Chivas were able to dominate on the offensive end as they recorded 11 shots, to only three for the Fire.
"We knew at halftime that we had a very good shot of coming out of here with a win," Nagamura said. "We felt that we were playing better than Chicago and we knew we could come out of here with three points."
Chivas USA head coach Preki has been impressed with Nagamura's contributions to the club.
"He does whatever it takes to make us better as a team and I really appreciate that," Preki said. "It was great to see him get his first goal of the season."
As well as they attacked offensively, Chivas were just as solid defensively as goalkeeper Brad Guzan was only asked to save one shot on the night. The lone save came in the 82nd minute on an effort by Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez.
"When you're asked to stop just one or two shots and they're from 25 yards away, it makes your job much easier," Guzan said. "It started with our defense of Alex (Zotinca), Claudio (Suarez) and Shavar (Thomas). When they play as well as they do, it makes it very easy for me."
Guzan recorded his fourth shutout of the season and he is positive about the direction his team is headed. For Chivas, it was their second consecutive win, after knocking off Western Conference leaders FC Dallas 2-0 last weekend.
"We're playing well lately," Guzan said. "We dominated and to come in here and get three points that means we did a great job."
Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch was again making his return to Chicago and he said he felt it was only a matter of time before his team would score.
"It was one of those games where you felt that you could score at any time," Marsch said. "But it was also one where that if you let them behind you, they could score and make it 1-0 for them also."
Tim Hilton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
