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Chivas USA Revels In Gritty Victory Over Columbus
Chivas USA kept its 100% record for the 2009 MLS season by beating the Columbus Crew 2-1. After the match, the squad talked about the gritty match.
Apr 6, 2009 12:33:47 AM
Despite only having 18 fit players on the roster, Chivas USA ground out their third straight win of the 2009 Major League Soccer season on Sunday. The Columbus Crew came to visit the Home Depot Center, but left without any points, despite controlling the majority of the play and having the better of the chances.
After the match, a relieved Preki admitted in the press conference that, “We'll take the three points.” The Chivas USA coach went on to discuss some specific aspects that made the game a tricky contest.
“Afternoon games are one of those games I'm always afraid of, because for whatever reason there's no real football atmosphere in the stadium, guys are a little bit flat, and aren't sharp,” he said.
Preki praised his players.
“The group is a tough group. We haven't played as well as we are capable of playing, but we have a group of guys in the locker room who believe in each other, who work for each other, and when you have that, sometimes it gives you success. I won't say sometimes: pretty much a lot of the time.”
Captain Jesse Marsch echoed his coach's sentiments in the locker room. The MLS original discussed the team's work ethic and overall ethos that allows them to nab the points in gritty games.
“One of my favorite things about this team is it's a humble group of guys,” he said. “Even when we win, we don't think that we're world beaters. We know that there's things to work on, that it's not perfect yet, but we all go out there on the field and fight for each other.”
With the win, Chivas USA joined Seattle Sounders FC as the only MLS team with a perfect record. While Seattle have done it with some aplomb, Chivas have instead ground out their points in tense affairs. Marsch thinks the play can only improve.
“I don't think we've played our best by any stretch, but I think there have been segments in each game where we've looked good,” he clarified. “Now I think our biggest job is to expand the times of the good play. All that being said, even though we haven't been our sharpest at times, I still think we've been hard to play against.”
As Chivas celebrated the full share of the spoils, the Crew was left ruing missed chances. Robbie Rogers was dangerous all game, despite being at what he called 85% fitness, but couldn't help his team put away the chances needed to win the game.
“It was really disappointing,” he told Goal.com. “I felt like we at least could have earned a point here. We gave up some soft goals and we didn't finish our chances. When you're on the road and you get a few chances, you've got to finish them, and you can't give up goals on set pieces like we did.
“It's frustrating. It has put us in a hole, and we need to find a way out of it. But I think it's going to make us a stronger team.”
The Crew return home for the next two matches, hoping to replicate the form that won them the MLS Cup last year, and Chivas USA take on the LA Galaxy in the SuperClasico next week looking to increase the winning streak to four.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
After the match, a relieved Preki admitted in the press conference that, “We'll take the three points.” The Chivas USA coach went on to discuss some specific aspects that made the game a tricky contest.
“Afternoon games are one of those games I'm always afraid of, because for whatever reason there's no real football atmosphere in the stadium, guys are a little bit flat, and aren't sharp,” he said.
Preki praised his players.
“The group is a tough group. We haven't played as well as we are capable of playing, but we have a group of guys in the locker room who believe in each other, who work for each other, and when you have that, sometimes it gives you success. I won't say sometimes: pretty much a lot of the time.”
Captain Jesse Marsch echoed his coach's sentiments in the locker room. The MLS original discussed the team's work ethic and overall ethos that allows them to nab the points in gritty games.
“One of my favorite things about this team is it's a humble group of guys,” he said. “Even when we win, we don't think that we're world beaters. We know that there's things to work on, that it's not perfect yet, but we all go out there on the field and fight for each other.”
With the win, Chivas USA joined Seattle Sounders FC as the only MLS team with a perfect record. While Seattle have done it with some aplomb, Chivas have instead ground out their points in tense affairs. Marsch thinks the play can only improve.
“I don't think we've played our best by any stretch, but I think there have been segments in each game where we've looked good,” he clarified. “Now I think our biggest job is to expand the times of the good play. All that being said, even though we haven't been our sharpest at times, I still think we've been hard to play against.”
As Chivas celebrated the full share of the spoils, the Crew was left ruing missed chances. Robbie Rogers was dangerous all game, despite being at what he called 85% fitness, but couldn't help his team put away the chances needed to win the game.
“It was really disappointing,” he told Goal.com. “I felt like we at least could have earned a point here. We gave up some soft goals and we didn't finish our chances. When you're on the road and you get a few chances, you've got to finish them, and you can't give up goals on set pieces like we did.
“It's frustrating. It has put us in a hole, and we need to find a way out of it. But I think it's going to make us a stronger team.”
The Crew return home for the next two matches, hoping to replicate the form that won them the MLS Cup last year, and Chivas USA take on the LA Galaxy in the SuperClasico next week looking to increase the winning streak to four.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
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