they allowed 44 goals, tied for second-most among the playoff teams. But the 2-0 shutout of FC Dallas in the season finale that propelled them into the playoffs has given room for optimism. "It was collectively a very good defensive effort. Our backline played exceptionally well. Everybody was rock solid. They were coordinated and connected. I thought Jimmy [Conrad] was a great leader [in the match]," head coach Curt Onalfo said. ... The shutout was the first since a July 14 blanking of Real Salt Lake at Arrowhead Stadium. "We feel like we've been pretty solid, but, whether it's one or two plays, things haven't gone our way for a good part of the season. Hopefully, this can start a little roll ...," said Jack Jewsbury. "We have some great leaders in the middle in Jimmy and Nick. Those are guys who have been there and won championships. We're solid in terms of the guys we have, it's just putting it together as a full team effort. ... We feel good about ourselves, and we're ready for Chivas." ... Over the past few weeks, rookie Michael Harrington has supplanted veteran Jose Burciaga Jr. at left back, and he is expected to remain there. "He was excellent both defensively and going forward. He put together a very strong performance that he'll build on going into the playoffs in that position," said Onalfo. ... There are other injury concerns. Playmaker Carlos Marinelli will be out to an ankle injury suffered in the FC Dallas game, while Eloy Colombano injured a hamstring and Scott Sealy is also hampered. "It doesn't feel too bad. It's a little sore. Nothing major," said Sealy of his right quadriceps strain while Onalfo said that Marinelli's ankle sprain was "a little worse off" than Colombano's hamstring and that each would be "game-time decisions" when it came to their availability.
CHIVAS USA:
Chivas USA had their preparations for the first leg interrupted when the team decamped early for Kansas City, leaving late Wednesday evening because of the wildfires besieging southern California. The Red-and-White are hoping the new surroundings could help their injury situation. In addition to Ante Razov, who will be out to a knee injury suffered late in the season, strike partner Maykel Galindo and midfield stalwart Jesse Marsch were unable to take part in training during the week. Marsch said he expects to start despite a lingering groin injury. Galindo has been slowed by an abdominal strain, but he hasn't missed any games. However, Francisco Mendoza returned to the training field for the first time in almost two weeks. Mendoza has missed the past three games with a groin injury but is likely to play against the Wizards. "We have so many banged up bodies. We're not going to make any excuses," Chivas head coach Preki said. "We have some other options." ... After suffering the injury on Oct. 11, it was feared Razov would miss the entire postseason. However, after undergoing a procedure called Platelet Rich Plasma, Razov hopes he can return during the postseason. "We are just taking it day by day, week by week. We can't get too ahead of ourselves," Razov said during the week. "I'm only eight days out, nine days out and I made some pretty good progress here after the procedure. After the two-week mark, I'm hoping to be back up and jogging and running again and you still have to let the actual ligament heal." ... Over the last three months of the season, Chivas USA compiled a 7-1-5 mark on their way to the Western Conference lead as the Rapids were the only club to fell Chivas USA. "Ever since the beginning and ever since we've been having this good run from the All-Star break, there is no team that when we play our soccer can beat us," Kljestan said. "We can really take that next step towards MLS Cup. We really feel like we have a good chance and anything less is going to be a big disappointment for our team this year."
