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Old School Chivas USA Out-Hustles Toronto
It was a performance that relied on good old defensive hustling and last year's star, but Chivas USA rode it to a 2-0 win over Toronto FC.
Aug 23, 2009 3:10:32 AM
CARSON, Calif.--Chivas USA had two new faces on the team that beat Toronto FC 2-0, but it was old players and practices that earned the Goats the win.
Loan signings Jesus Padilla and Maicon Santos freshened up what has been a stagnant attack for Chivas. Brazilian striker Santos played a smooth throughball to set up the second goal.
“He's got a soft touch,” Chivas head coach Preki said of the 25-year-old. “On the second goal, when he plays Sacha, not too many players can play that ball. He has a lot of talent.”
Indeed, Sacha Kljestan scored the second goal. He scored the first one too, taking his season tally to two after what has been a dour season from the 23-year-old.
“He's been working really hard in training,” Preki said of the player who led his team in goals and assists last year. “We've been talking a lot, trying to get him back where he was.”
Another blast from the past was the gritty defensive shift Chivas USA put in. Starting goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who missed the game through injury, has the best goals against average in the league. However, the team has been generous lately, conceding frequently.
“I thought the defensive effort of our team tonight was very good. It reminds me of the team of old days,” Preki said.
Toronto felt the defensive pressure. By the second half, the team resorted to blasting long shots at the goal, mostly through Dwayne DeRosario.
“It's a big enough field that you can play, and for some reason we couldn't find room to play,” said forward Chad Barrett. “We weren't linking together. People were taking too many touches and you really can't do that.
“They were first to balls. They were first going forward. I just think people were a bit lackadaisical. People didn't come ready to play today and it showed.”
TFC coach Chris Cummings agreed with his substitute. He didn't seen enough drive from his players, and with the playoffs looming, he wasn't impressed.
“There's eight remaining games until the playoffs, and the way we performed tonight, we didn't show that,” he admitted.
With two more road games coming up for Toronto, the team will need to follow Chivas by getting back to the gritty performances that have brought the club this far.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Loan signings Jesus Padilla and Maicon Santos freshened up what has been a stagnant attack for Chivas. Brazilian striker Santos played a smooth throughball to set up the second goal.
“He's got a soft touch,” Chivas head coach Preki said of the 25-year-old. “On the second goal, when he plays Sacha, not too many players can play that ball. He has a lot of talent.”
Indeed, Sacha Kljestan scored the second goal. He scored the first one too, taking his season tally to two after what has been a dour season from the 23-year-old.
“He's been working really hard in training,” Preki said of the player who led his team in goals and assists last year. “We've been talking a lot, trying to get him back where he was.”
Another blast from the past was the gritty defensive shift Chivas USA put in. Starting goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who missed the game through injury, has the best goals against average in the league. However, the team has been generous lately, conceding frequently.
“I thought the defensive effort of our team tonight was very good. It reminds me of the team of old days,” Preki said.
Toronto felt the defensive pressure. By the second half, the team resorted to blasting long shots at the goal, mostly through Dwayne DeRosario.
“It's a big enough field that you can play, and for some reason we couldn't find room to play,” said forward Chad Barrett. “We weren't linking together. People were taking too many touches and you really can't do that.
“They were first to balls. They were first going forward. I just think people were a bit lackadaisical. People didn't come ready to play today and it showed.”
TFC coach Chris Cummings agreed with his substitute. He didn't seen enough drive from his players, and with the playoffs looming, he wasn't impressed.
“There's eight remaining games until the playoffs, and the way we performed tonight, we didn't show that,” he admitted.
With two more road games coming up for Toronto, the team will need to follow Chivas by getting back to the gritty performances that have brought the club this far.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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