Atiba Harris scored a goal in the 68th minute and Chivas USA beat FC Dallas for the second time this season, 2-0 on Saturday evening at The Home Depot Center.
Alecko Eskandarian added an insurance goal in stoppage time on a breakaway as the Red-and-White improved to 5-1-1 on the season.
The two teams finished with 10 men apiece as Dario Sala was ejected midway through the first half. Harris meanwhile picked up his second yellow of the game in the final minute. Harris' ejection though was too late for FC Dallas to do much with the ball except watch Eskandarian race free down the middle of the field and score on Burse.
Chivas USA welcomed back Justin Braun to the starting lineup. Braun missed the last four games with a sprained knee but overcame his injury and promptly returned to the starting lineup. Braun paired with Chukwudi Chijindu up front as Eskandarian and Eduardo Lillingston started the match on the bench.
Chivas USA's Zach Thornton came up with a stellar save in the 11th minute. On a free kick, Kenny Cooper rose up inside the penalty area and slammed a header on frame. Thornton dived and pushed the ball over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick, Marcelo Saragosa found the ball on the far post and knocked a shot towards the goal but knocked it into the outside netting.
Thornton again saved Chivas USA later in the first half. FC Dallas' David Ferreira sent a ball in towards the penalty area and the ball fell to Dax McCarty's feet. McCarty seemingly had an open goalmouth to shoot at but Thornton's outstretched hand appeared seemingly out of nowhere and parried the ball away.
Sala then saved FC Dallas from a possible goal, but in doing so left the match prematurely. Chijindu broke through FC Dallas' defense and was almost in alone on the goal. When Chijindu turned and tried to control the ball, Sala was outside the penalty area and tapped the ball away with his hand before kicking the ball clear.
Sala though was sent off for denying Chijindu a goal-scoring opportunity. Ray Burse came onto the field to replace Sala in goal and FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman took McCarty out to make room for Burse.
Even with a man less, FC Dallas threatened Chivas USA's goal and appeared anxious to nab a goal. Thornton, though, made sure that did not happen. He made his third standout save of the first half. On the half hour, Dave van den Bergh had space and the ball on the left side of the penalty area, but Thornton dived and stopped van den Bergh's shot just in front of the goal line.
Burse kept Chivas from scoring in the 53rd minute with a fine save. Harris snapped a header on goal off a corner kick but Burse was in prime position to make the save as he knocked the ball off the goal line, and Chivas failed to get a foot on the rebound as it rattled around inside the box.
Braun almost scored a nifty goal in the 56th minute. From the right side of the penalty area, Braun sent a floating ball towards the corner of the goal. Burse scrambled backwards and parried the ball away.
Chivas USA coach Preki tried to energize his team when he sent Maykel Galindo into the match in the 59th minute, replacing Braun. Galindo had played just once this season before Saturday.
Thornton was sharp once again in the 63rd minute. Ferreira had broken into the penalty area alone on the right side and tested Thornton but the 'keeper stood firm and knocked the attempt away.
In the 63rd minute, Preki inserted Eskandarian into the match and took out Sacha Kljestan. The U.S. international has been ineffective this season, having contributed zero goals and zero assists in five previous matches this season.
It was Harris who finally opened the scoring. Mariano Trujillo swung a cross into the penalty area from the right flank. Harris' eyes latched onto the ball and he took a few steps towards the oncoming ball. With a gaping hole in FC Dallas' defense, Harris slammed the header attempt on frame and knocked it into the back of the net.
The goal was Harris' second of the season and seemed to settle Chivas USA's nerves. With Chivas USA having gone scoreless for more than 40 minutes with a man advantage, the club seemed pressed for offense. Harris delivered though and allowed the club to relax.
Still, Pablo Ricchetti had a wide-open goal to shoot at in the 81st minute.
Thornton did his best to try and gift FC Dallas a goal. In the 84th minute, Shavar Thomas slipped a ball back to Thornton, whose first touch failed him. The ball bounced off his foot and Ferreira ran onto it. He controlled the ball and pushed it towards an open goal but the ball had little on it and went wide of the goal altogether.
After Harris was sent off in the 89th minute, FC Dallas had a set piece that ended up nowhere. On the ensuing clearance, though, Gerson Mayen sailed a ball over the top of FC Dallas' defense and Eskandarian ran onto it. He broke free and raced into the area before beating Burse from 15 yards out.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
