Ante Razov scored a stunning late goal to give Chivas USA a 1-0 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
With the game scoreless in the 88th minute, Razov sent a 27-yard free kick over the wall and past the despairing dive of Joe Cannon, inside the right-hand post and into the back of the net for the game-winner.
The goal was Razov's third of the season and 112th of his career. More importantly, it thrust Chivas USA to the top of the Western Conference. Both Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy are even on 21 points and will play Thursday in the second SuperClasico of the season.
The hosts came out and dictated terms against San Jose. The team started the match organized and knocked the ball around effectively.
Kelly Gray flattened Ante Razov a few yards outside of the penalty area in the 10th minute and set up Chivas USA's first set piece of the match. Razov and Sacha Kljestan stood over the dead ball but Razov ultimately took the shot and sent it straight at Cannon.
Two minutes later, Gray again took out a Chivas USA player. This time, it was Paulo Nagamura who lay on the field after Gray slid into Nagamura from behind some 30 yards out. Referee Terry Vaughn, though, forgave Grey and did not show the San Jose midfielder his second yellow of the match.
Razov again took the free kick but sent it to the far post, where San Jose cleared the ball out of danger.
Jonathan Bornstein, who started at left back for the first time since late April, had Chivas USA's first scoring chance of the match from open play. Marsch fed Bornstein down the middle of the field after the former Rookie of the Year made a run through the heart of San Jose's defense. Bornstein skirted around Nick Garcia and ripped a shot on goal. Cannon, though, dived to his left and stopped the ball. A hard-charging Atiba Harris nearly converted the rebound but Cannon pounced on Harris' attempt.
San Jose nearly broke through completely against the run of play. In the 37th minute, a loose ball popped out to Ramiro Corrales, who settled and fired a shot on goal from some 35 yards out. The ball caromed off the right post and fell to Kei Kamara, but his rebound attempt went well wide of the net.
Chivas USA's Bobby Burling rattled a header off the crossbar from eight yards out in the 41st minute. Kljestan placed a corner kick in front of the goal and Burling nearly converted the set piece. One minute later, Razov caught Cannon off balance from 16 yards out but Cannon recovered in time and stopped Razov's slow-rolling shot on the goal line.
Harris picked up a yellow card five minutes into the second half after a rough challenge on San Jose's Jason Hernandez. Aside from Gray's early tackles, the match had not been too physical to that point.
Chivas USA then nearly scored but again the woodwork was unkind. Carey Talley threaded a ball to Harris, who charged into the penalty area on the right side. Harris slipped a pass to Razov, who beat Cannon but saw his shot bounce off the far post.
In the 66th minute, Chivas USA coach Preki went to the bench for the first time as he inserted Justin Braun for Francisco Mendoza. Braun immediately proved his worth by winning a corner kick. Razov nearly finished off the corner kick but his diving header went just over the crossbar.
Former Chivas USA first-round draft choice John Cunliffe nearly haunted his former side. Cunliffe, a second-half substitute, fired a shot just wide of the right post in the 82nd minute. The match was Cunliffe's first against his former team since he was dealt to the expansion side on the eve of the 2008 regular season.
Ronnie O'Brien fouled Harris in the 86th minute and picked up a yellow card. Two minutes later, Razov bent in the free kick from long distance, just past Cannon's outstretched arms.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
