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Played
September 4, 2010 9:00 PM EDT
Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
September 4, 2010 9:00 PM EDT
Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Colorado Rapids - Chivas USA: Head To Head Preview
Teams desperate for points meet.
By Avery Raimondo and Manuel Carrera
On Form
Chivas USA: The Goats held off a persistent D.C. United squad at home last Saturday to bring an end to a three-game winless streak that followed their best stretch of the season. Though the back line was under duress for long stretches of the match, the squad managed to hold a late lead and take three points at home, two propositions that they struggled with at the beginning of the season. Justin Braun also recaptured his goal scoring form with an improbable goal off an Ante Jazic assist. Braun has been an surprising hero for the squad all season with timely goals and a blue-collar work rate, and will be essential to the club's fortunes in the final stretch of the season.
Colorado Rapids: During the first 23 minutes of last weekend’s encounter with the Houston Dynamo, the Colorado Rapid attack awoke from its dormancy. The three goals were the first time that the Rapids had managed to score more than once since the last week of June. The home victory sets up well the final two months of the MLS regular season as Colorado attempts to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Off Target
Chivas USA: Giancarlo Maldonado has gotten heavy minutes during his short spell with the club, but has come away with one goal and three shots on goal in his first six matches. Maldonado’s inability to provide a distraction for Braun has led to defenses tightening on Braun, which in turn has forced him to roam the entire third of the field in search of touches. Coach Martin Vasquez has also opted to use Jonathan Bornstein as a winger with Rodolfo Espinoza to open the wings, but the result has had mixed results as Bornstein has struggled to create opportunities. The continued absence of Jesus Padilla from the starting lineup looks to keep Bornstein on the wing and Jazic at left back.
Colorado Rapids: While the Rapids held a clean sheet against the Dynamo, the keeper situation this week could be a predicament. Regular starter Matt Pickens is experiencing back spasms, last weekend’s netminder Ian Joyce is awaiting the birth of his child, and second backup Steward Ceus is out with a broken wrist. Luckily, MLS pool keeper Chris Sharpe trains with the club and will likely fill in behind the Colorado back four.
Tactics
Chivas USA: Despite often playing a 4-4-1-1, since the acquisition of Maldonado, the Goats have used a more standard 4-4-2, with Braun playing a more traditional striker rather than a withdrawn position. Braun, though, has been forced to retreat due to a lack of service in recent weeks, often leaving Maldonado as the loan forward. Ante Jazic and Mariano Trujillo have plenty of experience, but their continual pushes up the field to support the attack have made the back line look porous, especially with the absence of Bornstein’s makeup speed as insurance. These deficiencies were made even more apparent in Wednesday’s loss in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal with Seattle.
Colorado Rapids: The Rapids lucked out this week as Omar Cummings, unable to leave the United States during the last stages of his green card process, was forced to decline a call-up to the Jamaican National Team. Colorado should utilize the searing pace of the forward to attack Chivas USA’s flanks, just as Seattle’s Steve Zakuani did last season. Conor Casey will be dangerous in the box as he awaits the service delivered by Cummings and playmaker Mehdi Ballouchy.
Intangibles
Chivas USA: The Goats remain at home where their fortunes have improved in recent weeks. Working against Chivas USA is the hectic schedule that will make Saturday’s match their third in seven days. The Goats have fielded their starters for the first two matches in this span and will face the prospect of having to alter an already precarious starting 11 for their match with Colorado.
Colorado Rapids: Rapid supporters will be hoping that the three-goal outbreak was not purely an anomaly. Against a below-average defense in Chivas, Colorado’s offense has a chance to use the opponent as a way to gain momentum. Smith’s side has relied all season on their stingy defense, but they will need their attack to begin performing if they want postseason play.
Outcome
Chivas USA: Colorado Rapids 1-1 Chivas USA: The Goats are within sight of leaving the cellar of the Western Conference, and that prospect should prove to be enough to muster a point at one of the league’s toughest venues. The Goat’s young players will have to maintain their concentration for 90 minutes in order to get a result, but the squad knows that they may not get another chance this season to leapfrog Houston in the standings.
Colorado Rapids: Don’t expect quite the same goal output as last week by Colorado this match; however, I still predict at least two goals as well as a clean sheet despite the questions surrounding the goalkeeper.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Chivas USA: The Goats held off a persistent D.C. United squad at home last Saturday to bring an end to a three-game winless streak that followed their best stretch of the season. Though the back line was under duress for long stretches of the match, the squad managed to hold a late lead and take three points at home, two propositions that they struggled with at the beginning of the season. Justin Braun also recaptured his goal scoring form with an improbable goal off an Ante Jazic assist. Braun has been an surprising hero for the squad all season with timely goals and a blue-collar work rate, and will be essential to the club's fortunes in the final stretch of the season.
Colorado Rapids: During the first 23 minutes of last weekend’s encounter with the Houston Dynamo, the Colorado Rapid attack awoke from its dormancy. The three goals were the first time that the Rapids had managed to score more than once since the last week of June. The home victory sets up well the final two months of the MLS regular season as Colorado attempts to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Off Target
Chivas USA: Giancarlo Maldonado has gotten heavy minutes during his short spell with the club, but has come away with one goal and three shots on goal in his first six matches. Maldonado’s inability to provide a distraction for Braun has led to defenses tightening on Braun, which in turn has forced him to roam the entire third of the field in search of touches. Coach Martin Vasquez has also opted to use Jonathan Bornstein as a winger with Rodolfo Espinoza to open the wings, but the result has had mixed results as Bornstein has struggled to create opportunities. The continued absence of Jesus Padilla from the starting lineup looks to keep Bornstein on the wing and Jazic at left back.
Colorado Rapids: While the Rapids held a clean sheet against the Dynamo, the keeper situation this week could be a predicament. Regular starter Matt Pickens is experiencing back spasms, last weekend’s netminder Ian Joyce is awaiting the birth of his child, and second backup Steward Ceus is out with a broken wrist. Luckily, MLS pool keeper Chris Sharpe trains with the club and will likely fill in behind the Colorado back four.
Tactics
Chivas USA: Despite often playing a 4-4-1-1, since the acquisition of Maldonado, the Goats have used a more standard 4-4-2, with Braun playing a more traditional striker rather than a withdrawn position. Braun, though, has been forced to retreat due to a lack of service in recent weeks, often leaving Maldonado as the loan forward. Ante Jazic and Mariano Trujillo have plenty of experience, but their continual pushes up the field to support the attack have made the back line look porous, especially with the absence of Bornstein’s makeup speed as insurance. These deficiencies were made even more apparent in Wednesday’s loss in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal with Seattle.
Colorado Rapids: The Rapids lucked out this week as Omar Cummings, unable to leave the United States during the last stages of his green card process, was forced to decline a call-up to the Jamaican National Team. Colorado should utilize the searing pace of the forward to attack Chivas USA’s flanks, just as Seattle’s Steve Zakuani did last season. Conor Casey will be dangerous in the box as he awaits the service delivered by Cummings and playmaker Mehdi Ballouchy.
Intangibles
Chivas USA: The Goats remain at home where their fortunes have improved in recent weeks. Working against Chivas USA is the hectic schedule that will make Saturday’s match their third in seven days. The Goats have fielded their starters for the first two matches in this span and will face the prospect of having to alter an already precarious starting 11 for their match with Colorado.
Colorado Rapids: Rapid supporters will be hoping that the three-goal outbreak was not purely an anomaly. Against a below-average defense in Chivas, Colorado’s offense has a chance to use the opponent as a way to gain momentum. Smith’s side has relied all season on their stingy defense, but they will need their attack to begin performing if they want postseason play.
Outcome
Chivas USA: Colorado Rapids 1-1 Chivas USA: The Goats are within sight of leaving the cellar of the Western Conference, and that prospect should prove to be enough to muster a point at one of the league’s toughest venues. The Goat’s young players will have to maintain their concentration for 90 minutes in order to get a result, but the squad knows that they may not get another chance this season to leapfrog Houston in the standings.
Colorado Rapids: Don’t expect quite the same goal output as last week by Colorado this match; however, I still predict at least two goals as well as a clean sheet despite the questions surrounding the goalkeeper.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Colorado Rapids 1-0 Chivas USA
- 40 %
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Colorado Rapids 2-1 Chivas USA
- 40 %
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Colorado Rapids 2-0 Chivas USA
- 20 %
| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Apr 28, 2012 | Colorado Rapids 4 - Chivas USA 0 |
|
| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Aug 20, 2011 | Colorado Rapids 2 - Chivas USA 2 |
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| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Mar 26, 2011 | Chivas USA 0 - Colorado Rapids 1 |
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| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Sep 4, 2010 | Colorado Rapids 3 - Chivas USA 0 |
|
| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Sep 4, 2010 | Colorado Rapids 3 - Chivas USA 0 |
|
Colorado Rapids
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| May 26, 2012 | Colorado Rapids 3 - Montreal Impact 2 | MLS |
| May 19, 2012 | Colorado Rapids 2 - Sporting Kansas City 2 | MLS |
| May 16, 2012 | D.C. United 2 - Colorado Rapids 0 | MLS |
| May 6, 2012 | FC Dallas 0 - Colorado Rapids 2 | MLS |
| May 2, 2012 | New England Revolution 2 - Colorado Rapids 1 | MLS |
Chivas USA
 |
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| May 26, 2012 | Chivas USA 1 - Seattle Sounders FC 1 | MLS |
| May 23, 2012 | New York Red Bulls 1 - Chivas USA 1 | MLS |
| May 19, 2012 | Chivas USA 1 - Los Angeles Galaxy 0 | MLS |
| May 13, 2012 | San Jose 1 - Chivas USA 1 | MLS |
| May 4, 2012 | Chivas USA 1 - Chicago Fire 2 | MLS |
| 18 | Matt Pickens | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Drew Moor | Defender |
| 6 | Anthony Wallace | Midfielder |
| 4 | Jeff Larentowicz | Midfielder |
| 20 | Jamie Smith | Midfielder |
| 21 | Julien Baudet | Defender |
| 27 | Kosuke Kimura | Defender |
| 25 | Pablo Mastroeni | Midfielder |
| 10 | Mehdi Ballouchy | Midfielder |
| 9 | Conor Casey | Striker |
| 14 | Omar Cummings | Striker |
| 17 | Ian Joyce | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Danny Earls | Defender |
| 15 | Wells Thompson | Midfielder |
| - | Claudio Javier López | Striker |
| 19 | Andre Akpan | Striker |
| 12 | Quincy Amarikwa | Striker |
| 29 | Scott Palguta | Defender |
| - | Zach Thornton | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Ante Jazic | Defender |
| - | Michael Umaña | Defender |
| 21 | Ben Zemanski | Midfielder |
| - | Alan Gordon | Striker |
| - | Rodolfo Espinoza | Midfielder |
| - | Michael Lahoud | Midfielder |
| - | Yamith Cuesta | Defender |
| - | Jesús Andrés Padilla | Striker |
| 8 | Mariano Trujillo | Defender |
| - | Paulo Nagamura | Midfielder |
| 31 | Kevin Guppy | Goalkeeper |
| - | Dario Delgado | Defender |
| 55 | Marcelo Saragosa | Midfielder |
| 30 | Carlos Borja | Defender |
| 7 | Salvatore Zizzo | Midfielder |
| 17 | Justin Braun | Striker |
| - | Jorge Flores | Midfielder |
| Omar Cummings | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 14 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Jesús Andrés Padilla | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 0 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
18 
3 
6 
4 
20 
21 
27 
25 
10 
9 
14 
0 
6 
0 
21 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
8 
0
Results
Times In EST
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 |