they needed to win to remain alive for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Chivas USA were riding an 11-game unbeaten streak -- and had yet to lose in a home match on the season.
• In the first game for Chivas without Ante Razov, out for possibly the remainder of the year with a knee injury, it was a taut first half for both sides. But the game burst to life immediately after the break. John Cunliffe sent Maykel Galindo in alone behind the Rapids defense and when he pulled down by Brandon Prideaux, referee Alex Prus gave him his marching orders.
• Down a man, though, the Rapids took the lead in the 64th minute. A corner kick was swung in from the right, and after bouncing off a few bodies in the goalmouth, Ugo Ihemelu banged it home from close range for his first goal on the season.
• Chivas drew level in the 78th minute. Sacha Kljestan held the ball and chipped a perfect ball over the Rapids defense for Orlando Perez to run onto, and he ripped home a low shot from inside the area for his first goal since the 2003 season.
• But somehow, the Rapids found the game-winner in the final minute of regulation time. A long clearance downfield reached Conor Casey on the left touchline, and after fighting off a defender, he turned the corner and raced at the near post. Drawing the 'keeper to him, he slid the ball across to the far post where Omar Cummings raced in to tap the ball into the empty net and keep Colorado's season alive.
• Chivas USA head coach Preki made three changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with FC Dallas on Thursday. Claudio Suarez came back into central defense in place of Jason Hernandez, and Orlando Perez came in at left back as Jonathan Bornstein moved into midfield and Francisco Mendoza had the night off. Maykel Galindo also returned to the lineup in place of Laurent Merlin.
• Here's Preki's team (4-4-2): Brad Guzan - Alex Zotinca (Rodrigo Lopez 72), Claudio Suarez, Shavar Thomas, Orlando Perez - Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch (Lawson Vaughn 63), Paulo Nagamura, Jonathan Bornstein - John Cunliffe (Laurent Merlin 57), Maykel Galindo. Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Jorge Flores, Jason Hernandez, Erasmo Solorzano
• "It was one of those games. From the very beginning I had a funny feeling. I know we have a better team, I knew that our chances will come and in the first half we had two or three very good opportunities to open up the game," Preki said. "But, we give them credit, they fought, they did what they needed to do and they got two scrappy goals. At the end, we were pushing for a win, because a tie for us did not matter, but it wasn't meant to be."
TEAM NEWS
• Chivas USA had a chance to become just the second team in MLS history - after the San Jose Earthquakes in 2005 - to sail through their home schedule unbeaten. They also lost out on a chance to claim the Supporters' Shield with the defeat.
• "This one hurts, you know what I mean?" Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "But it's good that it happened now and not in three weeks so we'll regroup, we'll get ready for (Houston)." Said Orlando Perez: "It's a sad feeling, because we had a great opportunity of clinching the Western Conference with a victory. But we let go all those clear scoring opportunities and then, when we got the tying goal, we threw numbers forward and they took advantage of the open spaces."
• Still, Chivas lost the match by pushing forward for a victory themselves, rather than trying to hang on for a result. "A tie didn't really do anything for us. Whether we tied or lost it, it really didn't matter except for our home win streak or what not," Guzan said. "At that point, we're pushing for a win and you have to. In this scenario, you try and get three points from the game. Unfortunately we didn't get any."
• Orlando Perez was given the start at left back and contributed his third career goal. He scored twice in 2003 for the Chicago Fire.
• "Sacha got the ball and I made a run behind the defense. He played a great ball over the defense into my path and I had time to take a touch, look up where the goalie was at and just place it," Perez said. "For what it's worth, it's always good to score but I'm still disappointed with the result."
• The loss also snapped Chivas USA's club-record 16-game regular-season home unbeaten streak. "It seems like we're pushing forward to get that second goal to win and they catch us off balance in the back and they come and score," Perez said. "It's hard to swallow but now we have to put this game behind us and look forward at Houston."
• The club also confirmed Ante Razov will be gone for up to six weeks with ligament damage to his left knee - which could well force him out for the rest of 2006. "He's a big part of this team both on and off the field. He's a big loss for us," Guzan said. "But we have to find a way. That's what good teams do. Guys step up, guys have an opportunity and when they get those opportunities they have to take a hold of it and not let go."
• Said Preki: "We've got to find a way to score goals without him. We had plenty of opportunities. It wasn't that we didn't have opportunities. As a coach, I would be worried if we didn't create any chances. But when you create this many, it's disappointing that we don't put them away."
• It's also shades of a season ago, when Razov also broke down in the homestretch. He missed two of the final three league games then was not able to play in the first leg against Houston in the conference semifinals.
• "The difference between this year and last year -- a big one -- is the depth on our bench," defender Jonathan Bornstein said. "Last year, we only had one or two guys who could step in but this year we have four or five who can step in, not just coming in and giving a little lift but actually scoring goals and getting assists and adding a lot to our team. Before we worried if one of these guys were hurt but now one of these guys can step in and give another element to the team."
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo pulled themselves into a one-game battle for the Western Conference regular season title, getting the game's only goal in a defeat of Real Salt Lake on Monday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Dynamo now have 51 points from 29 matches, a point behind Chivas USA, as the two teams are still assured of home-field advantage for their respective Western Conference Semifinal Series.
LAST MATCH
• Dynamo had seen their six-game unbeaten streak put to an end in their last match, while Real Salt Lake had lost back-to-back games and were eliminated from playoff consideration for a third season.
• After a quiet opening 45 minutes there were narrow misses at each end after the break. Yura Movsisyan hit the base of the post for RSL, and Stuart Holden saw his header tipped over the bar by a tremendous acrobatic leap from Nick Rimando in the Real goal.
• Dynamo then took the lead in the 66th minute. From the right flank, Holden hit a seeming cross that instead sailed goalward and crossed up Rimando, and the RSL 'keeper was able only to get a hand to the ball as it sailed into the upper corner.
• Six minutes later Dynamo went down a man when Eddie Robinson was sent off after Kyle Beckerman went down as he dribbled into the area on a near-breakaway. But referee Tim Weyland left the sides level in the 77th minute when he gave Movsisyan his marching orders after he tangled with Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
• Dynamo boss Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy the previous Sunday. Brad Davis returned to the lineup after a long absence to injury, in place of Corey Ashe, while Stuart Holden started in the center of midfield instead of Dwayne De Rosario, who was away on a family emergency.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-1-3-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Richard Mulrooney - Brian Mullan, Stuart Holden, Brad Davis (Patrick Ianni 75) - Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya (Corey Ashe 78). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Brian Ching, Paul Dalglish, Zach Wells, Chris Wondolowski
• "It was good. You can't say it was a beautiful game.There were a lot of stoppages; it was hotly contested so there were a lot of fouls. The first half we kind of weathered the storm - [goalkeeper Pat Onstad] was really good coming up catching the ball - and the second half I thought we played better," Kinnear said.
TEAM NEWS
• Kinnear was very happy to get some returnees to his lineup. Brad Davis made his first start since June 30, after suffering a knee injury, and Holden capped his first start since Aug. 4 with his fifth goal of the year.
• "I don't think he meant to shoot it, to be honest. I mean [Nick Rimando] pulls off a great save, probably a minute before that, off of Stuart. Then I think the flight of the ball, movement of the ball, was difficult," Kinnear said. "So I think it was Stuart trying to cross it and he hit it a little awkward and gave us an awkward goal. It's an important awkward goal, that's for sure."
• Said Pat Onstad: It was a bit of an unfortunate goal, after Nick Rimando made the best save I've seen all season off of Stuart Holden. Absolutely a fantastic save, probably a career-best save for him. It was unfortunate what happened after that, but he's had a great season."
• With a playoff spot already secured, Dynamo could have gone to Salt Lake just looking to fine-tune and prepare for the defense of their MLS Cup. However, Chivas USA's loss to Colorado the day before changed all that.
• "We still have one more game to go, so we're not talking playoffs yet. We play Chivas on Saturday," said Kinnear. "If we get a good result there then we're finishing in the top spot in the West. As games go on, the closer that you get, the more geared up you are. The guys are focused in the right place and not trying to look too far ahead and take these games as they come. And that's what we're going to try to do next Saturday."
• It's also vitally important because the game could decide where a potential Western Conference Championship match would be played. Since 2003, when the playoff format went to the single-game deciders for the MLS Cup participants, the home team has won six of the eight meetings.
• "We wanted to start gearing up for the playoffs, but on the same token we're still trying to fight for the division title. We needed at least a draw here to have a chance to beat Chivas USA next week and we (can) clinch the division," said Onstad. "So at least the last game means something for us. We feel if we're going to make another run at the MLS Cup, we've got to get a win in L.A. against Chivas. It's going to be a difficult match for us, but at the same time at least we put ourselves in a good spot."
• In addition, Dynamo showed what the home-field advantage can mean last year. Chivas USA claimed a 2-1 victory when the teams met in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series, but Houston won 2-0 in the second leg at Robertson Stadium.
• "Our games at Chivas are always a little intense," said Holden. "I think they're becoming a rival. And this game got a little heated toward the end. Tempers were flaring. We've lost a couple of players for next week. Now, we just have to focus and make sure that we come out and get the job done."
