If a tough loss can serve as motivation, Chivas USA could be more motivated than ever entering the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs.
A year ago, an upstart Chivas USA squad was less than a half-hour from advancing to the Western Conference Championship, only to have the series and their season pulled out from underneath them in a stunning fashion.
It's an end this year's club will do anything to avoid.
"When we start the playoffs this year we are definitely going to know that feeling and what is what like when we walked out of Houston being eliminated," Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "We haven't forgotten that."
While this year's Chivas USA team enters the postseason as a favorite to reach MLS Cup, the 2006 version was not in the same lofty position. Just one year removed from their 22-loss season, Chivas USA had a strong turnaround and reached the playoffs for the first time.
Against Houston, Chivas USA started off the postseason with a historic 2-1 win at The Home Depot Center. But the club lost Ante Razov to injury for the second leg and faced a team that was trying to slay its own playoff ghosts. Before moving to Houston, the club had won the Supporters' Shield in 2005 as the San Jose Earthquakes but crashed out of the playoffs that year in the first round.
Still, Chivas USA had kept Dynamo scoreless in the first half and was tied 0-0 when disaster struck in the 58th minute. Francisco Palencia was sent off after an altercation with Ricardo Clark and the Red-and-White were left with 10 men.
Houston scored the game-winner in the 64th minute on a penalty kick and won the series in second-half stoppage time when Brian Ching scored a devastating goal.
"It was shattering to be up in the game with 30 minutes left and then to fall, we gave up two goals in that time," midfielder Jonathan Bornstein said. "It was a devastating loss, one that I've thought about many times since last year and it's made the whole team stronger because of it. Let's not let that happen again."
The stinging memory has spurred those who suffered through it to try and move forward from it and use it as a learning experience.
"We haven't forgotten about that. We know what it feels like," Guzan said. "We have a lot of guys in this locker room who have experienced tough games and I think we're going to be ready for it."
Eight of the 11 starters from that game are still with the team and figure to play a key role during this year's playoffs. The series against Dynamo, who eventually went on to win MLS Cup 2006, gave the youngsters valuable experience in the highs and lows a playoff series can bring.
Although the club had gone through growing pains during the 2006 season as a new coach and a slew of new players took time to mesh, playoff elimination is a rather unique occurrence.
"Last year was a good test and a good experience for a lot of the young guys," Guzan said. "We were able to take in a lot of the playoff atmosphere and see what a real game is all about and what that atmosphere entails. We did a good job on learning from that experience if you will, and kind of keeping that in the back of our minds throughout this entire year."
This year, the situation is a bit different. Chivas USA won the Western Conference and will play the first leg away from home. While injuries have again taken their toll on Chivas USA -- Razov is likely out for the first round -- the club's depth is improved this season.
Ultimately, Chivas USA's 2006 playoff exit was disastrous but perhaps a necessary part of their potential title run this time around.
"You need to learn from your mistakes," Bornstein said. "Everyone thinks that last year we had a shot but we kind of gave it away in that game in Houston. If you can learn from that and move on -- which I think we have and I think we're a lot stronger of a team this year -- I think we can do a lot better in the playoffs this year."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
