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CHIVAS USA v REAL SALT LAKE
THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, Carson, Calif.
4 p.m. PT (FSC; FSN-W; FSN-Ut)
Oct. 15, 2006 (WEEK 29) / MLS Game #192
A week after securing the first playoff berth in the club's short history, Chivas USA could head into their season finale with a chance to take second place in the Western Conference and home-field advantage in a potential semifinal series against Houston Dynamo. However, if that's the case, then Real Salt Lake will have seen their playoff dreams dashed - that would mean a Colorado Rapids win Saturday in Houston, and Real would be eliminated. However, if Dynamo win Saturday, then RSL must defeat Chivas to sneak into the postseason in the final game of the 2006 season. A draw in Houston, and Real's playoff hopes are also over, while Chivas will go into the finale knowing they will be taking on Dynamo in the conference semifinals.
REFEREE: Brian Hall. SAR (bench): Chris Strickland; JAR (opposite): Nate Clement; 4th: Abbey Okulaja
MLS Career: 82 games; FC/gm: 32.6; Y/gm:4.0; R: 13; pens: 32
MLS 2006: 11 games; FC/gm: 30.7 (avg: 28.9); Y/gm: 3.9 (avg: 3.64); R: 3 (MLS: 43); pens: 1 (MLS: 41)
Games involving Chivas USA: P6 W1 L4 T1; FC/gm: 28.2; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 2; pens: 0
Games involving Real: P7 W3 L3 T1; FC/gm: 26.4; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 3; pens: 2
INJURY REPORT: CHIVAS USA - OUT: DF Carlos Llamosa (L thigh strain); FW Juan Francisco Palencia (R knee sprain); MF John O'Brien (R patella tendonitis); MF Mike Muñoz (R ankle surgery), MF Ramón Ramírez (L knee MCL surgery), FW Estuardo Sánchez (L foot surgery); MF Carlos Borja (R knee MCL tear); QUESTIONABLE: MF Johnnie Garcia (L ankle sprain); PROBABLE: FW Ante Razov (R adductor strain); MF Juan Pablo García (L adductor strain); FW Drew Helm (R shoulder separation) ... REAL SALT LAKE - OUT: DF Paul Broome (L ankle internal derangement); MF Seth Trembly (L knee ACL tear); MF Christian Jimenez (L knee ACL tear); DOUBTFUL: DF Danny Torres (R foot sprain)
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD (caution limit suspensions do not carry over to postseason): CHV: Tim Regan, Jesse Marsch ... RSL: Atiba Harris, Carey Talley, Andy Williams
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (7 meetings): Chivas USA 3 wins, 14 goals ... Real 2 wins, 8 goals ... 2 draws
AT CARSON: (3 meetings): Chivas USA 3 wins, 9 goals ... Real 0 wins, 1 goal ... 0 draws
This is the fourth of four meetings this season for last year's expansion clubs, and the second of two at The Home Depot Center.
A year ago, the two new league clubs split their season series, each maintaining form on their home grounds. For Chivas, their two wins were historic. The 1-0 victory at The Home Depot Center on May 7 was the first in club history. Then their 5-1 win on Victoria Street on July 9 was the biggest in the team's short life.
Coaches record: Bob Bradley vs. RSL: P5 W1 L0 D4 ... John Ellinger v CHV: P7 W2 L3 D22006 (MLS):
4/2: CHV 3, RSL 0 (Razov 21, 65; Garcia 25)
7/4: RSL 0, CHV 0
7/26: RSL 3, CHV 3 (Cunningham 33; Talley 55; Williams 74 - Razov 2; Bornstein 59; Suarez 90)
Chivas USA won the first meeting between the teams this season, then they played to draws in their last two encounters, once on each ground.
Last year's expansion teams opened their sophomore seasons against each other, with Chivas USA winning 3-0 on April 1 at The Home Depot Center. The home side broke through after just 21 minutes. New signing Claudio Suarez sent a ball over the top from midfield and Razov raced onto it before coolly finishing
Four minutes later Juan Pablo Garcia doubled the lead with a magnificent goal. With his back to the goal some 25 yards out, he quickly turned and let loose a well-placed curling shot that sailed over Garlick and found the left side netting.
In the 66th minute, Razov completed his double. He collected the ball some 35 yards out from goal, shook loose from a marker and unloaded a 25-yard laser beam past Garlick.
On July 4, the teams played to a scoreless draw at Rice-Eccles Stadium, as the rematch of the expansion teams from a year ago petered out although RSL - flagged for offside 11 times on the night - had apparent goals from Atiba Harris in the first half and Jason Kreis in the second ruled out when the linesman's flag went up.LAST MEETING
Chivas USA scored the equalizer in second-half stoppage time to snatch a 3-3 draw on July 26 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It took Chivas just 90 seconds to open the scoring. Juan Francisco Palencia had a second chance at a through ball, and chipped it over the RSL defense for Ante Razov to run onto, and alone on Scott Garlick he knocked it through the 'keeper's legs for his league-leading 12th goal of the season.
RSL pulled level in the 33rd minute. Chris Klein swung in a free kick from the right, and it wasn't headed clear, falling to Jeff Cunningham. He chested down the ball and lashed home a volley inside the far side netting.
Just after the break, Real pulled ahead with a stunning goal. Carey Talley took a pass some 40 yards from goal and hit a wicked strike that rattled off the underside of the bar and into the upper right corner with Preston Burpo's dive well late.
But just four minutes later, Chivas pulled level. Jonathan Bornstein - though back in his left back role - took a pass at the top of the area, turned and hammered home his third goal in the last two games.
RSL again nosed in front with another highlight-reel goal. Cunningham played the ball into Kreis, who with two defenders on his back laid it back for Andy Williams. He hit a bending shot with the outside of his right boot that settled into the upper right corner for his first goal of the campaign.
Yet Chivas had one more answer. Jesse Marsch ran onto a pass on the left side of the area, took it to the byeline and pulled back a low cross into the six-yard box where Claudio Suarez steamed in to drive it into an unguarded goal four minutes into stoppage time.
Here's Ellinger's team (4-4-2): Scott Garlick - Kevin Novak, Nikolas Besagno, Douglas Sequeira, Willis Forko - Chris Klein, Carey Talley, Mehdi Ballouchy, Andy Williams (Joey Worthen 82) - Jeff Cunningham (Atiba Harris 86), Jason Kreis. [Substitutes Not Used: Nick Armington, Chris Brown, Kenny Cutler, Jack Stewart, Jamie Watson]
Here's Bradley's team (4-4-2): Preston Burpo - Tim Regan (Drew Helm 89), Jason Hernandez, Claudio Suarez, Jonathan Bornstein - Juan Pablo Garcia, Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza (Orlando Perez 46) - Juan Francisco Palencia, Ante Razov. [Substitutes Not Used: Rene Corona, Brad Guzan, Carlos Llamosa, Lawson Vaughn]
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA lost 2-1 to the Kansas City Wizards last Saturday night, yet still claimed the first postseason berth in club history, thanks to Real Salt Lake's 1-1 tie at home with Houston. Chivas have 42 points from 31 matches, third place in the Western Conference, three points behind Houston Dynamo. They can still gain home-field advantage for the conference semifinals: a Dynamo loss to Colorado at home, and a Chivas win on Sunday, and Chivas will travel to Houston for the opening match of the first round while the Rapids will take on FC Dallas.
LAST MEETING
In what could be the final ever MLS game at Arrowhead Stadium, the Wizards hadn't lost in three games, though they knew for sure their playoff future would come down the final game of the year. Chivas USA had a four-game unbeaten streak ended in a loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy the week before that again narrowed the West race.
After an expectedly tight first 45 minutes, the Wizards pulled ahead after the break. Jose Burciaga Jr. flighted in a free kick from the left and Dave van den Bergh rose up to head it home inside the left-hand post for his second MLS goal (50).
The teams traded penalty kicks three minutes apart. In the 71st minute, Nick Garcia tripped up Jonathan Bornstein in the area, and Claudio Suarez converted from the spot to tie the game.
But Wizards striker Josh Wolff was fouled in the area by Jason Hernandez, and while Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan got a hand to Burciaga's penalty, he couldn't keep it out. It was the eighth goal of the season for Burciaga, most in MLS among defenders.
Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley made four changes to the team lost 3-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy the Saturday before at The Home Depot Center. Lawson Vaughn came in at right back and Jason Hernandez in central defense, replacing Tim Regan and the injured Carlos Llamosa. Juan Pablo Garcia and Matt Taylor formed a new-look strike partnership - just the second start for Taylor this season - as Johnnie Garcia and Jesus Morales returned to the substitutes' bench.
Here's Bradley's team (4-4-2): Brad Guzan - Lawson Vaughn, Jason Hernandez, Claudio Suarez, Orlando Perez - Sacha Kljestan (Brent Whitfield 75), Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza, Jonathan Bornstein - Matt Taylor (Rodrigo Lopez 81), Juan Pablo Garcia (Jesus Morales 46). [Substitutes Not Used: Esteban Arias, Preston Burpo, Ante Razov, Tim Regan]TEAM NEWS
After the loss, there was the tension of waiting to see the other results come in. Once the Real-Dynamo match was final and ended in a 1-1 draw, Chivas USA had secured a playoff spot.
"It's a big step for the club," said Chivas coach Bob Bradley. We're disappointed that we didn't take the point in this game, or three points, but it's a reward for a year of good work."
Bradley felt his club did a good job of coming back, when Bornstein earned the equalizing penalty. But then the Wizards received one of their own three minutes later.
"It's very, very important when you get back into a game and now you've tied it up, to keep the concentration at that point. To give up a penalty less than three minutes after we had one is something that, on our end, shouldn't happen," Bradley said.
Chivas has played the past two weeks without some of their key attacking players, such as Ante Razov, Juan Francisco Palencia. Juan Pablo Garcia was able to return for Saturday's game, but Chivas hope to be at full strength for the playoffs.
"I think that our concentration and our mentality was good tonight," Bradley said. "On the other hand we need to get healthy."
Bradley also felt his defense played well, and did not believe goalkeeper Brad Guzan needed to stand on his head to keep Chivas in the game.
"I think they got two good chances. One ball bounced. A guy took a shot, the ball bounced loose and went right back to their guy, so I don't consider that struggling, and one time they got behind Orlando Perez. The shots on goal in the first half were Kansas City three and Chivas two, so no, I don't think we 'struggled'."
REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake still have one final chance to claim a first-ever place in the MLS Cup Playoffs after a 1-1 draw with Houston Dynamo last Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. If Dynamo defeat the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night in Houston, then RSL can go to The Home Depot Center and, with a victory, move ahead of Colorado into fourth place in the Western Conference. RSL has 38 points from 31 matches, two behind Colorado, and two ahead of sixth-place Los Angeles, heading into the weekend.
LAST MATCH
Real Salt Lake could not claim a playoff berth with a victory, but could certainly make things tighter for the final weekend. Houston Dynamo were in, and after the Chivas USA loss, with a victory could secure home-field advantage for the conference semifinals.
Dynamo controlled the opening 45 minutes and deservedly went ahead in the 20th minute through Paul Dalglish. Ricardo Clark hit a defense-splitting pass, and Dalglish spun away from marker Jack Stewart before slotting the ball inside Scott Garlick and the near post for his first MLS goal.
But Real kept their playoff dreams alive with an equalizer on the hour. Just minutes after coming on as a substitute, Mehdi Ballouchy played a nice combination with Jeff Cunningham and rifled home a low shot from the edge of the area.
Real head coach John Ellinger made one change to the team that came back to grab a 3-3 draw with the Kansas City Wizards the weekend before, returning to his favored 4-4-2 scheme. Jeff Cunningham returned from a slight injury to retake his starting role in attack, as Nelson Akwari returned to the substitutes' bench.
Here's Ellinger's team (4-4-2): Scott Garlick - Kevin Novak (Mehdi Ballouchy 57), Eddie Pope, Jack Stewart, Willis Forko - Chris Klein, Jason Kreis, Carey Talley, Andy Williams - Jeff Cunningham, Atiba Harris. [Substitutes Not Used: Nelson Akwari, Chris Brown, Kenny Cutler, Jay Nolly, Douglas Sequeira, Jafet Soto]
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it, we were not the better team in the first half," Ellinger said. "Seventy percent of the 50-50 balls, they were winning them. Our passing was horrendous. We just weren't doing things right in the first half."TEAM NEWS
And so, it all comes down to the final weekend of the season. After playing Dynamo, Real will now be their biggest fans.
"There are some points that we've left on the table for sure, but we have also taken some points that we're proud of. Could we have gotten more points at home? Yeah, we could have," Ellinger said. "I guess the schedule-makers knew what they were doing. When it came out last February, we kind of thought that the last Sunday of the season would be crucial. Well, now it is, and so is Colorado's game at Houston on Saturday night."
With a loss, Real would have seen their season end last weekend. The addition of Mehdi Ballouchy just before the hour mark turned the Houston game. It also came as Ballouchy celebrates Ramadan, meaning he fasts between sunrise and after sunset. The Muslim holiday extends from Sept. 23 to Oct. 24 this year.
"He gave us a great spark. He scored a great goal. I've been trying to encourage him to shoot because when you put it on frame good things happen," Ellinger said. "I'm happy for him to get his second goal of the season, and I hope he gets a few more."
Just the chance to play a meaningful game at the end of the season sets this year's RSL team apart from last year's. In its inaugural season, RSL gave up at the end of the season on the way to a 5-22-5 record and a fifth-place finish in the Western Conference.
"We've obviously come a long way for ourselves. I think we certainly earned the right to be in this position. Last year we kind of petered out towards the end of the season and didn't have a shot. And now going into the last game, having a shot really means a lot for RSL," defender Eddie Pope said. "We've worked hard and it's almost like we turned over a new leaf. You saw the 22,000-plus out there, they believe in us, we believe in ourselves. We are coming together at the right time, and I hope we are able to reward these guys with a playoff game in two weeks."
However, if they still have a chance at The Home Depot Center, a lot will depend on getting off to a good start. Real have allowed the first goal in each of their last six games.
"They came at us pretty hard, and I don't think we did a great job of responding over that first 15 minutes or so," Pope said about the Dynamo match.
