Chivas USA Edge Quakes To Extend League Lead

Chivas USA are now leading Major League Soccer's table by six points.

May 3, 2009 11:38:43 AM

More On : Chivas USA, San Jose

Major League Soccer's league leaders, Chivas USA, captured their sixth win in a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Justin Braun scored the only goal of the game, taking advantage of a defensive miscommunication to poke home a Jonathan Bornstein cross.

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First Half

Though the Earthquakes out-shot the visiting team, San Jose could not penetrate the Chivas USA defense, which of late has followed the lead of rejuvenated veteran goalkeeper Zach Thornton.

Thornton's finest save of the night was probably his first, as two minutes into the game, he extended to tip a low shot from Shea Salinas off the post before it was cleared by the Red-and-White defense.

“We scrambled in the first 20 minutes, then were able to settle down and control the game," said Chivas USA coach Preki.

Arturo Alvarez of the Quakes had two golden opportunities to get on the scoresheet for his team, but Thornton turned him aside each time. In the 19th minute, he turned away a shot after Alvarez broke clear on a counterattack into the box. In the second scenario, Thorton nimbly leapt back to poke Alvarez' cheeky chip shot over the bar in the 24th minute.

Despite their energy, the Earthquakes had nothing to show for their effort in the first half.

Second Half

Chivas USA didn't take long to put their stamp on the game in the second period. Braun, the Chivas striker, latched on to a Bornstein cross, while Quake defenders bungled the play badly.

The Red-and-White made no such error when the Quakes ran a similar play in the other direction. Thornton came off his line strongly to grab an Alvarez cross just before Bobby Convey could reach it in the box.

Thornton earned his league-leading fifth shutout of the season, making six saves to preserve the clean sheet against everything the Earthquakes threw at him.

Chivas USA are now 6-1-1 with 19 points, clear at the top of the league by six points, ahead of second-place Seattle Sounders FC. Chivas USA plays next against Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center, their home ground.

The Earthquakes remain at only five points, one point clear of the worst record in MLS.

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