If Chivas USA and the Kansas City Wizards can repeat their performances against each from the regular season in their upcoming Western Conference Semifinals, the series will be one of the more entertaining of any first-round matchup.
It could also leave both teams scratching their heads.
Kansas City beat Chivas USA on July 29 in Arrowhead Stadium in a match players on both sides said the visitors controlled. On Sept. 22, Chivas USA knocked off Kansas City by a 2-1 score at The Home Depot Center. Again, both sides felt the visitors -- in this game the Wizards -- had the better go of it.
Nonetheless, the club's eight total goals made for entertaining and thrilling soccer.
For the Red-and-White, the club simply needs to follow the mantra that has held true all season: if Chivas USA play their game, they will be difficult to beat.
"That's just what we're about. That's kind of who we are. We're not going to change a whole lot," midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "We're going to still throw out at what we've been good at all year and try and obviously ramp it up a little bit. We're going to play the way we've been playing all year and see if teams can beat us."
Kansas City was one of the clubs who pulled out a win against a determined Chivas USA side. In their home game against the Western Conference champions, the Wizards scored three goals against them. Chivas USA allowed three or more goals in just three games this year.
In the game in Carson, the Wizards did well to attack Chivas USA and mount wave after wave of offense, something opponents have not done consistently against the Red-and-White this season. Though the Wizards scored just one goal in their trip to Southern California, the club did well to threaten Chivas USA's goal on multiple occasions.
Forwards Eddie Johnson and Scott Sealy should do the same in the playoffs. At least, Chivas USA defenders are expecting as much.
"We're going to go against two good strikers," Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas said. "It's going to be a good game, an entertaining game. I can assure you that. They are going to come prepared. Scott and Eddie know I'm going to be prepared and I'm going to do my best to not let them score."
Thomas knows Johnson and Sealy better than any of his Chivas USA teammates. For three seasons before joining Chivas USA, Thomas anchored Kansas City's backline.
Thomas also spent time with Johnson in Dallas. The U.S. national team striker will be a constant threat on Chivas USA's backline.
"Before you go on the field, you know that you are going to go up against a guy who is a pretty potent finisher and score goals," Thomas said. "He's done it on the international scene and he's done it a club level."
Johnson scored 15 goals and added six assists this season, both career highs. Aside from his sprinter-like speed, Johnson's finishing ability is an ever-present danger.
In order to keep him from scoring, Thomas said he and his teammates would have to be focused on the striker's presence throughout the match.
"We're just going to try and maintain him, nullify what he does, put him into negative spots and try to contain him," Thomas said. "I'm not going to say he's not going to get any chances. He's a good striker."
Despite his skills, Johnson has acquired a reputation for not focusing for the entire game. But Thomas said Chivas USA would maintain their attention on Thomas no matter what.
"Good strikers, no matter what you do, no matter what they do, if they're out of the game, you have to be focused and keep your attention on them for 90 minutes," Thomas said. "Eddie is a proven striker. If he's not into the game or loses focus, at the same time you still have to keep him in touch and keep him in tight and make sure he doesn't get any chances or get any goals."
Chivas USA will likely face problems, though, if they only pay attention to Johnson. Sealy scored seven goals this year, including two in the Wizards' playoff-clinching 2-0 win at FC Dallas to close out the regular season.
"Don't get me wrong, we're not forgetting Sealy. He is a guy I would say is a big-time finisher. If you look at the amount of games he played, when he gets in, he scores," Thomas said about Sealy, who played in 18 games this year. "We're not forgetting about Sealy, definitely."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
