|
|
Chivas USA Close Out Seattle For Narrow Win
Chivas USA returned to clean-sheet ways on the way to earning a 1-0 win in the Home Depot Center against the Seattle Sounders.
Jun 7, 2009 2:57:52 AM
CARSON, Calif.--Chivas USA remembered how to close out a win again with a tough 1-0 victory over the visiting Seattle Sounders FC. An Eduardo Lillingston goal against the run of play in the first half was the difference between the clubs. The win sees Chivas retain its top-of-the-table standing but the Sounders now share third place in the West with the Colorado Rapids.
Both teams were missing personnel heading into the encounter. Injuries claimed Osvaldo Alonso, Nate Sturgis, and Zach Scott for Seattle with Tyrone Marshall out through suspension. Stephen King, Patrick Ianni, and Tyson Wahl came in to replace them.
Chivas had influential captain Jesse Marsch missing through red card suspension as well, so rookie Michael Lahoud notched his first start of the season. Down the left flank, international call-ups had claimed starters Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, so youngsters Jorge Flores and Justin Braun stepped in.
First Half
Both teams were out of the gate quickly and the game began with a pacy rhythm. It only took Seattle four minutes to reveal its game plan. Freddie Ljungberg burned Jorge Flores down the right flank and smacked a hard low shot at Zach Thornton in the Chivas goal.
As the prickly game continued, Seattle returned to that formula consistently, hoping to expose the youngster in the Chivas backline.
Nearly 20 minutes in, though, the Sounders' next good look at goal came through a different avenue. Nate Jaqua drifted deep and collected the ball, eventually knocking it back to Fredy Montero thanks to a deflection. The burly striker spun quickly and Montero put him through on goal as the Chivas line stepped forward, but Jaqua lacked the pace to beat Shavar Thomas. The Jamaican deflected the shot wide after his recovery sprint.
With the play going mostly Seattle's way, Chivas USA struck in the 38th minute. From a throw in, Eduardo Lillingston flicked the ball through to Maykel Galindo. The Cuban skinned Jhon Kennedy Hurtado before Paulo Nagamura smashed a shot on frame. Kasey Keller could only parry, and Lillingston followed up the play to tap home into the empty net.
Seattle pushed back in the half to try to notch an equalizer without too much luck. The best chance came when James Riley joined the attack and slipped a low cross into the box. Jaqua burst between two defenders to make things uncomfortable for Thornton, but the 'keeper managed to push the ball and Jaqua away to retain the slender lead.
Second Half
With smog still lingering from the halftime entertainment, Montero tried a quick lob to start off the second half, but hit it well wide.
From then on Chivas began slowing the pace of the game, sucking the venom out of the Seattle attack by coolly knocking the ball around in triangles to keep possession. Slick buildup work led to another rare chance three minutes into the half. A Justin Braun cross was headed tamely towards goal by Michael Lahoud, but Keller easily collected.
Soon after, it was Nagamura involved in the attack again. He showed an impressive turn of pace to dart onto Lillingston's clever through pass and pushed the ball towards the face of goal. Galindo somehow contrived to tap high from three yards out under heavy pressure by Hurtado.
Seattle reacted to Chivas' newfound attacking pressure with a chance of its own a minute later. Ljungberg finally squiggled free of Flores to uncork a shot from long distance which tested Thornton, but the 35-year-old managed to parry for a corner kick.
Just prior to the hour mark, Hurtado saved his own blushes. He made a hash of a headed clearance and the ball fell to an open Lillingston. The Mexican got Keller to commit before hitting a delicious chip over the sprawling 'keeper. However, Hurtado had recovered and sprinted back to the goal line to flick the shot away with his head at the last possible moment.
With time running out, Seattle began to commit more men forward in search of an elusive equalizer. One good chance came when Sebastien Le Toux, freshly on the pitch, played the ball to Jaqua. The big striker spun on the ball to round Mariano Trujillo, and then nailed a left-footed shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
A minute later the Sounders went even closer. A Ljungberg corner kick bounced around in the melee of the box before popping up for Hurtado. The Colombian capped off a rough night by heading over the bar from two yards out with the goalie stranded.
Pressure continued to build on the Chivas backline, but despite conceding late goals in recent matches, the defense managed to hold on to the clean sheet. The result was all but confirmed in the 89th minute when Jaqua stepped on Nagamura's foot in a late challenge to collect his second yellow card of the night.
The Sounders are now winless in six, a poor run of form that has seen an early season spurt largely fizzle out. Chivas returned to winning ways in the first time in four matches with the slender victory and now leads the league with 27 points, six clear of the trailing Chicago Fire.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
Both teams were missing personnel heading into the encounter. Injuries claimed Osvaldo Alonso, Nate Sturgis, and Zach Scott for Seattle with Tyrone Marshall out through suspension. Stephen King, Patrick Ianni, and Tyson Wahl came in to replace them.
Chivas had influential captain Jesse Marsch missing through red card suspension as well, so rookie Michael Lahoud notched his first start of the season. Down the left flank, international call-ups had claimed starters Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, so youngsters Jorge Flores and Justin Braun stepped in.
First Half
Both teams were out of the gate quickly and the game began with a pacy rhythm. It only took Seattle four minutes to reveal its game plan. Freddie Ljungberg burned Jorge Flores down the right flank and smacked a hard low shot at Zach Thornton in the Chivas goal.
As the prickly game continued, Seattle returned to that formula consistently, hoping to expose the youngster in the Chivas backline.
Nearly 20 minutes in, though, the Sounders' next good look at goal came through a different avenue. Nate Jaqua drifted deep and collected the ball, eventually knocking it back to Fredy Montero thanks to a deflection. The burly striker spun quickly and Montero put him through on goal as the Chivas line stepped forward, but Jaqua lacked the pace to beat Shavar Thomas. The Jamaican deflected the shot wide after his recovery sprint.
With the play going mostly Seattle's way, Chivas USA struck in the 38th minute. From a throw in, Eduardo Lillingston flicked the ball through to Maykel Galindo. The Cuban skinned Jhon Kennedy Hurtado before Paulo Nagamura smashed a shot on frame. Kasey Keller could only parry, and Lillingston followed up the play to tap home into the empty net.
Seattle pushed back in the half to try to notch an equalizer without too much luck. The best chance came when James Riley joined the attack and slipped a low cross into the box. Jaqua burst between two defenders to make things uncomfortable for Thornton, but the 'keeper managed to push the ball and Jaqua away to retain the slender lead.
Second Half
With smog still lingering from the halftime entertainment, Montero tried a quick lob to start off the second half, but hit it well wide.
From then on Chivas began slowing the pace of the game, sucking the venom out of the Seattle attack by coolly knocking the ball around in triangles to keep possession. Slick buildup work led to another rare chance three minutes into the half. A Justin Braun cross was headed tamely towards goal by Michael Lahoud, but Keller easily collected.
Soon after, it was Nagamura involved in the attack again. He showed an impressive turn of pace to dart onto Lillingston's clever through pass and pushed the ball towards the face of goal. Galindo somehow contrived to tap high from three yards out under heavy pressure by Hurtado.
Seattle reacted to Chivas' newfound attacking pressure with a chance of its own a minute later. Ljungberg finally squiggled free of Flores to uncork a shot from long distance which tested Thornton, but the 35-year-old managed to parry for a corner kick.
Just prior to the hour mark, Hurtado saved his own blushes. He made a hash of a headed clearance and the ball fell to an open Lillingston. The Mexican got Keller to commit before hitting a delicious chip over the sprawling 'keeper. However, Hurtado had recovered and sprinted back to the goal line to flick the shot away with his head at the last possible moment.
With time running out, Seattle began to commit more men forward in search of an elusive equalizer. One good chance came when Sebastien Le Toux, freshly on the pitch, played the ball to Jaqua. The big striker spun on the ball to round Mariano Trujillo, and then nailed a left-footed shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
A minute later the Sounders went even closer. A Ljungberg corner kick bounced around in the melee of the box before popping up for Hurtado. The Colombian capped off a rough night by heading over the bar from two yards out with the goalie stranded.
Pressure continued to build on the Chivas backline, but despite conceding late goals in recent matches, the defense managed to hold on to the clean sheet. The result was all but confirmed in the 89th minute when Jaqua stepped on Nagamura's foot in a late challenge to collect his second yellow card of the night.
The Sounders are now winless in six, a poor run of form that has seen an early season spurt largely fizzle out. Chivas returned to winning ways in the first time in four matches with the slender victory and now leads the league with 27 points, six clear of the trailing Chicago Fire.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page.
Inside Goal.Com
-
EURO 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi and Van Persie named in Goal.com's dream team XI
Goal.com put together its dream team for this summer's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.