CHIVAS USA v NEW YORK RED BULLS
THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, Carson, Calif.
5 p.m. PT (FSN-PT; MSG)
Sept. 9, 2007 (WEEK 23) / MLS Game #151
Chivas USA continue their five-game home stretch with a second meeting in four days against an Eastern Conference club as the New York Red Bulls come calling. Chivas USA came back for an historic 2-2 draw with D.C. United on MLS Primetime Thursday, running their unbeaten streak to four games while moving into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference. In the overall table, the Red Bulls are just a point behind Chivas USA as they sit in third place in the East, a win against the Chicago Fire in their last match stopping a quick two-game losing skid.
REFEREE:
Mark Geiger. SAR (bench): Kyle Borne; JAR (opposite): David Bragg; 4th: Ramon Hernandez
MLS Career: 29 games; FC/gm: 32.2; Y/gm: 4.3; R: 5; pens: 11
Games involving Chivas USA: P4 W0 L3 T1; FC/gm: 32.0; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 1; pens: 1
Games involving Red Bulls: P2 W1 L1 T0; FC/gm: 30.5; Y/gm: 5.5; R: 0; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT:
CHIVAS USA - OUT: DF Carlos Llamosa (L knee ACL surgery); GK Justin Myers (L foot fracture); DOUBTFUL: DF Bobby Burling (abdominal strain) ... NEW YORK RED BULLS - OUT: FW Jozy Altidore (L lower leg injury); MF Chris Karcz (L knee); MF Santino Quaranta (R toe sprain)
SUSPENDED:
CHV: Alex Zotinca (through Sept. 13) ... NY: Dane Richards (through Sept. 9; five cautions)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHV: Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Orlando Perez
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CHV: Maykel Galindo, Jason Hernandez ... NY: Jozy Altidore, Kevin Goldthwaite, Joe Vide
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: CHV: Ramon Nunez (Honduras; v Costa Rica, Sept. 8)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (5 meetings): Chivas USA 1 win, 9 goals ... Red Bulls 2 wins, 10 goals ... Ties 2
AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER (2 meetings): Chivas USA 0 wins, 0 goals ... Red Bulls 1 win, 2 goals ... Ties 1
• This is the second of two meetings between the clubs this season, the only one set for The Home Depot Center.
• A year ago, the Red Bulls won the season series for the second season running, playing to a draw in Carson while winning a wild, nine-goal thriller in East Rutherford.
• New York did not lose to Chivas USA over the club's first two seasons, winning once at each ground - including a 2-0 victory on the final day of the 2005 campaign that secured the then-MetroStars place in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
• Coaches record: Preki v NY: P1 W0 L1 D0 ... Bruce Arena vs. CHV: P1 W1 L0 D0
2007 (MLS):
7/26: NY 0, CHV 2 (Razov 38; Kljestan 87)
• Chivas USA defeated the Red Bulls for the first time ever, getting goals late in each half for a 2-0 victory on July 26 at Giants Stadium.
• Chivas USA took the lead in the 38th minute through Ante Razov. Maykel Galindo was given time to run at Seth Stammler on the right, and just as he entered the area he whipped in a quick cross where Razov snuck between two defenders and snapped home a bullet header inside the right-hand post.
• Three minutes from the end, Chivas doubled their lead through local boy Sacha Kljestan. Winning the ball in midfield, Kljestan played quickly to Razov, whose first-team return pass over the Red Bulls back line freed Kljestan. He raced in alone before sliding a shot just under Jon Conway's left side from the top of the area.
• Before that, the Red Bulls had their chances and could have drawn level on a few occasions. Juan Pablo Angel saw a header graze the outside of the post in the first half, and early in the second, Jozy Altidore turned a shot off the bar. Angel nearly grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time, but his looping header from a corner was headed off the line by Rodrigo Lopez.
• Here's Arena's team (4-3-3): Jon Conway - Hunter Freeman, Chris Leitch, Seth Stammler, Kevin Goldthwaite (Dema Kovalenko 72) - Joe Vide (Clint Mathis 60), Claudio Reyna, Dave van den Bergh - Jozy Altidore (Dane Richards 59), Juan Pablo Angel, John Wolyniec,. Substitutes Not Used: Danny Cepero, Carlos Mendes, Randi Patterson, Sinisa Ubiparipovic
• Here's Preki's team (4-4-2): Brad Guzan - Alex Zotinca (Rodrigo Lopez 83), Claudio Suarez, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein - Sacha Kljestan, Lawson Vaughn, Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza - Maykel Galindo (Laurent Merlin 73), Ante Razov (Jason Hernandez 92+). Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Jorge Flores, Anthony Hamilton, Orlando Perez
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA saw their three-game winning streak but still came back to grab an historic draw, coming back from two goals down for a 2-2 draw with D.C. United on MLS Primetime Thursday at The Home Depot Center. Chivas are now in sole possession of second place in the Western Conference with 37 points from 21 matches, one ahead of FC Dallas and two behind Houston Dynamo.
LAST MATCH
• It was a meeting of the two hottest teams in the league on MLS Primetime Thursday, as United came in with a six-game winning streak, all since the beginning of August, while Chivas USA were winners of three in a row and five of their last six.
• United got off to a dream start. A terrific touch from Christian Gomez found Jaime Moreno, who slid the ball to Luciano Emilio at the top of the area, and he cracked a rising blast into the upper left corner to give United a third-minute lead.
• In the 26th minute, United had doubled the lead and Emilio had doubled his haul. This time Emilio sprung Moreno on the right, who ripped a bounding blast from the corner of the area. Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan was able to parry the shot, but the rebound fell right to Emilio in the goalmouth and he hooked it high into the goal for his league-leading 16th goal on the season.
• But Chivas got some good fortune to start their fight back six minutes later. Troy Perkins came out of the area to clear a rolling ball - and drove it right into Ante Razov. The ball bounced off Razov's back and past Perkins, trickling back to the goal and over the line just before the United 'keeper could pull it back.
• On the hour, Chivas completed their comeback. A long cross was chased down by Sacha Kljestan on the right, and he cut to goal before laying back a pass for Lawson Vaughn. The defender hit a low shot that took a deflection on its way to goal, leaving Perkins helpless as it found home for his first professional goal.
• Chivas head coach Preki made three changes to the team that defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 at The Home Depot Center on Aug. 26. Lawson Vaughn and Shavar Thomas came back into the team, for Jason Hernandez and Orlando Perez in the back, while Maykel Galindo replaced Ramon Nuñez in attack.
• Here's Preki's team (4-4-2): Brad Guzan - Lawson Vaughn, Claudio Suarez (Jason Hernandez 85), Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein - Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Francisco Mendoza - Maykel Galindo (Laurent Merlin 76), Ante Razov (Ramon Nunez 64). Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, John Cunliffe, Jorge Flores, Orlando Perez
TEAM NEWS
• In five all-time meetings with D.C. United, Chivas USA had never before taken a point, much less a win. "I give my guys a lot of credit," Preki said. "We showed a lot of character tonight to come back from 2-0 down against the best team in the league, with the most points in the league, I think shows how much we've come as a group. Obviously we've never beaten D.C. or taken a point from D.C. so this is good for our confidence as well."
• In addition, Chivas USA had never battled back from two goals down to tie a match regardless of the final score. "D.C. United has been such a talented team this year, as well as through the whole existence of the league, and we've been able to come back from that deficit, that shows the character and the talent that we have," said Lawson Vaughn.
• If there was a downer, it was how Chivas USA started the game, giving away the early goal. "We talked about how this is one team that you really don't want to give the ball away in your own half and we've got to be aware of where Gomez and Moreno and Emilio are at all times," Preki said. "Next thing you know, after three minutes we go down."
• Said Ante Razov: "We kind of gave them those two goals. I lost the ball the first play. I played a short ball to Sacha and we kind of couldn't work it out and they hit us on a quick one, caught us off guard."
• But fortune smiled on Razov after Emilio and United's second, when the Perkins clearance deflected off him for the first Chivas goal.
• "Those are kind of ones that always as a forward you always cruise along and you say to yourself 'He's going to hit it off me' and he never does. For whatever reason he did this time," Razov said. "I don't even know if he saw me because (Greg) Vanney was in front of me and I just kind of stepped in front of him and then it was slow motion after that, watching the ball roll slowly toward the goal line."
• Then Vaughn scored his first professional goal, in his 33rd league game, for the leveler. "Sacha pushed forward as he always does and he drew a couple of defenders and I just saw the right opportunity to get forward," Vaughn said. "I called for the ball. He laid it off and I was just trying to get the ball on target. My dad always says 'You can't score if you don't shoot' and he's been pressuring me to score a goal."
• Chivas have now come away with a win and a draw from their first two games of a five-game home stand at The Home Depot Center. Of Chivas USA's final 11 matches, eight are home games. "In the end, that game was there for the taking and it's a little frustrating that we didn't get the three points out of it," Jesse Marsch said, "but I still look at this as a positive result."
NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls came back to the Meadowlands and put an end to their two-game losing run, getting the lone goal of the game against the Chicago Fire last Saturday at Giants Stadium. The Red Bulls now have 36 points from 23 matches, sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, six points behind the New England Revolution and seven behind D.C. United, but still tied for fifth in the overall table.
LAST MATCH
• The Red Bulls were returning home after a disheartening road trip that saw back-to-back losses to Eastern Conference foes at either end of I-95. The Fire were coming off a third win in five games, gaining a split of a home-and-home series with the Kansas City Wizards with a 2-0 home triumph.
• The Red Bulls had most of the run of play, but nothing to show for it, until they finally unlocked the Fire defense with 15 minutes to play. Dane Richards rode a couple of tackles in the center of the park before sliding a pass to Juan Pablo Angel on the left, and he sent a low shot past Chicago 'keeper Matt Pickens inside the far corner for the game-winner.
• For Angel, it was his 14th goal of the season, pulling him into a tie for the MLS Golden Boot with D.C. United's Emilio and Wizards striker Eddie Johnson by the end of the night.
• Red Bulls manager Bruce Arena made two changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium the Saturday before. Dave van den Bergh reprised his role at left back, coming in for Kevin Goldthwaite, and John Wolyniec came in up top for Jozy Altidore.
• Here's Arena's team (4-4-2): Ronald Waterreus - Chris Leitch, Jeff Parke, Seth Stammler, Dave van den Bergh - Dane Richards, Claudio Reyna, Joe Vide (Mike Magee 69), Clint Mathis (Carlos Mendes 89) - John Wolyniec (Francis Doe 63), Juan Pablo Angel. Substitutes Not Used: Jon Conway, Kevin Goldthwaite, Dema Kovalenko, Sinisa Ubiparipovic
• "It was a difficult game. Chicago came in with a game plan that obviously took on a defensive posture that was difficult to break down," Arena said. "It made it difficult for us and it was pretty predictable from the opening kickoff that it was going to be a 1-0 game. We knew during the week that we would have to create goal scoring opportunities and fortunately we finished off a good opportunity. At this point in the year, it is critical to separate yourself with teams in the conference and that was certainly accomplished tonight."
TEAM NEWS
• After allowing nine goals in three games, the Red Bulls were able to put together a clean sheet - shutting down an attack that features Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Paulo Wanchope and brought a different tactical scheme.
• "I was very pleased with their play tonight. They limited Chicago's goal scoring opportunities, which is a big plus for us," said Arena. "I think (Clint) Mathis and (Claudio) Reyna did a very good job, all of the guys did. We knew that it was going to be this kind of game and to come out with the three points in the end is great."
• With his goal, Angel moved into a three-way tie for the MLS Golden Boot with Kansas City's Eddie Johnson and D.C. United's Luciano Emilio, though Emilio now has 16. He is now within two goals of the New York Red Bulls all-time record for goals scored in a season, set by fellow Colombian international Adolfo Valencia in 2000.
• "Juan is an ideal player to have on your team. He brings a work ethic second to none. He produces on game day and he knows how to deal with coaches, players, teammates and press," Arena said. "He has been the perfect package despite not being 100 percent, yet he plays with no complaints. I believe he is tied for most goals in the league. There's no secret that the guys who play next to him do well."
• Jozy Altidore, who scored five goals in four August games, was sidelined with a lower left leg strain and is listed as day-to-day. "He is a young kid and he could be back real soon. I would expect to see him on the field this coming week," said Arena. Added Angel, who said he's been carrying a strain in his rib cage: "He's important for us, but I think the guys have to step up. John (Wolyniec), he always works hard for us, he's a handful and Francis (Doe), I think it was a great debut for him at home. He held the ball up well, he looked strong and sharp. I think we have good options."
• With the win, the Red Bulls separated themselves from the lower half of the East and, at the same time, moved a bit closer to securing a playoff bid of their own. A year ago, the Red Bulls clinched a playoff berth on the final day of the regular season, finishing with 39 points. They are at 36 with seven regular season games left.
• "I would think with a couple more wins we'd be in position to be a playoff team, which is certainly our goal," R Arena said. "But it's not going to be easy, it's going to be difficult. You see this time of year, the games are going to be close."
• Said Claudio Reyna: "The closer we get to the playoffs, the more relaxed we can get and the freer we can play. When you are just trying to grab points I think you get a little bit tense. A win tonight gives us confidence going into Chivas. If we don't get three points, we go there with a little more pressure. Today was huge because Chicago was one of the teams that was chasing us and now we really separated ourselves from them. Now we need to push on and try to chase the top and not worry about the teams below us."
