CARSON, Calif. - The Columbus Crew had their six-match unbeaten streak snapped on Saturday night as they fell 2-1 to Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center.
The sides traded goals three minutes apart midway through the first half - Ante Razov scoring for Chivas and Stefani Miglioranzi equalizing for the Crew - before an own goal provided the game-winner for Chivas in the 69th minute.
The Crew had several quality chances to equalize late in the match, including two near goals by Miglioranzi and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, but the Chivas defense - and unlucky finishing - made the result stand.
With the win, Chivas remain undefeated at home on the season while the Crew remain in fifth place in the Eastern Conference as the season reaches its midpoint.
Chivas took a one-goal advantage midway through the first half. Jesse Marsch fought for a loose ball near the top of the Crew penalty area and was able to get a pass off to Maykel Galindo from the ground. Galindo raced into the penalty area and hit a low ball across the mouth of the goal that an onrushing Razov knocked into the goal.
It didn't take the Crew long to answer as they squared things four minutes later in the 23rd minute. Schelotto hit a corner kick from the right side into the middle of the Chivas penalty area to Miglioranzi who smashed a header at goal. The ball struck the crossbar and landed just over the goal line. It was Miglioranzi's second goal of the year and Schelotto's seventh assist of the year.
Chivas threatened twice more before halftime. First, in the 26th minute, Orlando Perez crossed a ball into the Crew box and Marsch headed the ball at goal but his attempt was saved by Will Hesmer. Then, in the 37th minute, Galindo raced past Rusty Pierce to set up a one-on-one opportunity with Hesmer but the speedy Cuban put his low shot just wide left of the goal.
Hesmer denied Galindo on another clear scoring chance in the 65th minute. Galindo worked a one-two combination with Sacha Kljestan that left Galindo with a point-blank shot at goal. Galindo sent a hard shot straight into the chest of Hesmer, who didn't have time to react and instead had the ball bounce off his chest and go out of play.
Chivas went up 2-1 in the 69th minute through the own goal that was originally awarded to Francisco Mendoza. He sent a low shot into the Crew penalty area that deflected off Eddie Gaven and past Hesmer.
The goal came moments after defender Marcos Gonzalez asked to be substituted out of the match after appearing to injure an ankle while attempting a backpass to Hesmer. Ezra Hendrickson was brought in to replace the Chilean and Chivas scored just after the restart.
In the 74th minute, Galindo nearly made it 3-1 but his left-footed shot from 18 yards out banged off the left post.
The Crew had several chances to tie it in the final 10 minutes, highlighted by a Miglioranzi header off a corner kick that forced Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan into making a difficult save.
Five minutes from the end, Schelotto just missed finding the game-tying goal when his shot from 12 yards out sailed just over the crossbar.
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
