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Played
August 29, 2010 10:00 PM EDT
Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Referee: Kevin Stott
August 29, 2010 10:00 PM EDT
Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Referee: Kevin Stott
13′
Justin Braun
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Chivas USA 1-0 D.C. United: Goats End Three-Game Winless Skid
By Manuel Carrera
First Half
Both squads began the match with an open attack, knowing that they could not afford to drop three points at this point in the season. D.C. United got the first dangerous opportunity of the match in the third minute as Santino Quaranta fired a shot at close range that was stopped by Zach Thornton.
Chivas USA responded in the 12th minute when Justin Braun put away a long Ante Jazic pass with a header from just behind the penalty spot for his ninth goal of the season.
D.C. United kept pushing, directing their attack through the venerable Jaime Moreno. In the 22nd minute, Moreno laid off a pass to Branko Boskovic, who brought the pass to his preferred left foot and fired a laser that went just over Thornton’s goal.
Though the game had an upbeat pace, with United maintaining the most quality possession, neither team had convincingly taken control of the match. In the 43rd minute, Braun almost had his brace as Barry Rice carelessly brought the ball down and lost it to Braun in front of Tony Perkins’ goal, but Braun’s shot was taken too quickly and he squandered the gift by sending the ball over the cross bar.
Though both squads had their share of looks, neither squad was able to generate consistency in the final third of the pitch.
In the 45th minute, Santino Quaranta nearly put the game on level terms with a 25-yard shot to that crashed off Thornton’s cross bar, and nearly went in again when the ball bounced off of Thornton’s calf, but instead went just wide of the goal. The half came to a halt shortly after, with the hosts up 1-0, perhaps fortunately so after a first half that saw D.C. control possession for long stretches.
Second Half
The second half began with both squads trying to gain control of the midfield area. United struggled to maintain the possession that they had for periods of time in the first half, as Chivas USA eased their attack in favor of defending their 1-nil lead.
At the half Alan Gordon was brought on for Giancarlo Maldonado, who was ineffective with his limited opportunities, while Julius James replaced Barry Rice, who left the match right before the half with a gash above his right eye.
In the 61st minute, Quaranta slipped a deft pass to Andy Najar, who sped away from the Chivas USA back line, but his flick landed into the arms of Thornton. Just four minutes later, Najar threatened the Chivas USA defense once again as he sped past Mariano Trujillo, but his shot never really had a chance because of the difficult angle.
Najar’s presence in the match was felt immediately as an energized United squad attacked the Goats relentlessly. In the 69th minute, a Boskovic corner found the head of Jaime Moreno, who appeared to equalize, but an alert Trujillo dispatched the ball at the mouth of the goal.
Though Chivas USA appeared to be on the verge of breaking defensively, they managed to make their goal stand through relentless defending, timely goalkeeping, and a bit of misfortune by United. Najar’s presence nearly turned the match in their favor, but his inclusion appeared to come too late as full time saw the Goats end their three-game winless streak.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Both squads began the match with an open attack, knowing that they could not afford to drop three points at this point in the season. D.C. United got the first dangerous opportunity of the match in the third minute as Santino Quaranta fired a shot at close range that was stopped by Zach Thornton.
Chivas USA responded in the 12th minute when Justin Braun put away a long Ante Jazic pass with a header from just behind the penalty spot for his ninth goal of the season.
D.C. United kept pushing, directing their attack through the venerable Jaime Moreno. In the 22nd minute, Moreno laid off a pass to Branko Boskovic, who brought the pass to his preferred left foot and fired a laser that went just over Thornton’s goal.
Though the game had an upbeat pace, with United maintaining the most quality possession, neither team had convincingly taken control of the match. In the 43rd minute, Braun almost had his brace as Barry Rice carelessly brought the ball down and lost it to Braun in front of Tony Perkins’ goal, but Braun’s shot was taken too quickly and he squandered the gift by sending the ball over the cross bar.
Though both squads had their share of looks, neither squad was able to generate consistency in the final third of the pitch.
In the 45th minute, Santino Quaranta nearly put the game on level terms with a 25-yard shot to that crashed off Thornton’s cross bar, and nearly went in again when the ball bounced off of Thornton’s calf, but instead went just wide of the goal. The half came to a halt shortly after, with the hosts up 1-0, perhaps fortunately so after a first half that saw D.C. control possession for long stretches.
Second Half
The second half began with both squads trying to gain control of the midfield area. United struggled to maintain the possession that they had for periods of time in the first half, as Chivas USA eased their attack in favor of defending their 1-nil lead.
At the half Alan Gordon was brought on for Giancarlo Maldonado, who was ineffective with his limited opportunities, while Julius James replaced Barry Rice, who left the match right before the half with a gash above his right eye.
In the 61st minute, Quaranta slipped a deft pass to Andy Najar, who sped away from the Chivas USA back line, but his flick landed into the arms of Thornton. Just four minutes later, Najar threatened the Chivas USA defense once again as he sped past Mariano Trujillo, but his shot never really had a chance because of the difficult angle.
Najar’s presence in the match was felt immediately as an energized United squad attacked the Goats relentlessly. In the 69th minute, a Boskovic corner found the head of Jaime Moreno, who appeared to equalize, but an alert Trujillo dispatched the ball at the mouth of the goal.
Though Chivas USA appeared to be on the verge of breaking defensively, they managed to make their goal stand through relentless defending, timely goalkeeping, and a bit of misfortune by United. Najar’s presence nearly turned the match in their favor, but his inclusion appeared to come too late as full time saw the Goats end their three-game winless streak.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kenny Cooper
Striker NY Red Bulls |
11 | 2 |
|
Chris Wondolowski
Striker San Jose Earthquakes |
11 | 1 |
|
Thierry Henry
Striker NY Red Bulls |
9 | 0 |
|
Saer Sene
Striker New England |
7 | 1 |
|
Maicon Santos
Striker D.C. United |
7 | 0 |