Chivas USA's winless streak stretched to five games with a 4-0 loss to Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Wednesday evening. With a chance to jump to third place in the Western Conference standings, the Red-and-White surrendered a 13-5 advantage in shots taken and were shut out for the fifth consecutive match against Houston.
The Chivas roster was again depleted by injuries, with a total of 10 players listed on the pregame injury report. The walking wounded included forward Ante Razov, who was listed as a reserve but didn't get in to the game. Forward Alecko Eskandarian and defenders Lawson Vaughn and Claudio Suarez were among those who were inactive for the match.
Also absent was leading scorer Sacha Kljestan, with the U.S. national team for a World Cup qualifying match against Guatemala.
Houston was also without midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, goalkeeper Pat Onstad and forward Brian Ching. De Rosario and Onstad were representing Canada in a World Cup qualifier match against Jamaica, while Ching was with the U.S. national team.
Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he got loose behind the Chivas defense for a 1-on-1 with goalkeeper Zach Thornton. Holden's chip over a sliding Thornton found the middle of the net.
Eleven minutes later, Chivas defender Shavar Thomas was marking Houston forward Kei Kamara inside the box. Kamara, with his back to the goal, spun to Thomas' left and took a low right-footed shot that caught Thornton off-guard and slid just inside the back post for the score.
Houston forward Nate Jaqua found the net in the 28th minute, putting the rebound just over the line after teammate Ricardo Clark's header from a corner kick ricocheted off the crossbar.
Kamara added his second score of the match in the 36th minute, meeting a cross from Jaqua inside the area and sending his close-range header into the net for the final score of the evening.
Houston's four goals in the first half equals the most goals Chivas USA has allowed in a half this season, tied with the four goals allowed in the second half against the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 26.
Chivas midfielder Kraig Chiles had a chance to put the Red-and-White on the board in the 56th minute. Chiles had a step on Houston defender Wade Barrett and appeared to have only Houston goalkeeper Tony Caig to beat, but Barrett slid from behind to disrupt Chiles' shot and the attempt missed wide left.
The shutout loss extends Chivas USA's streak of futility against Dynamo. Chivas USA has now been shut out for its last 573 minutes of league play against Houston, with their most recent goal on Aug. 26, 2006.
Chivas USA will next return to The Home Depot Center to face the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday (7:30 p.m. PT). The Houston Dynamo will travel to Giants Stadium to face the New York Red Bulls on Sunday (12 noon PT).
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
