On Form
New York: If you haven’t seen Juan Pablo Angel’s marvelous free kick winner from Wednesday’s victory against the Houston Dynamo, well…what have you possibly been doing? The curling strike at the death assuaged the New York fans that have been worrying about the recent form of their star striker. Very few in MLS have the capabilities of the once Aston Villa star and while his mobility may be on the decline, his skill is eternal.
Chivas USA: It is difficult to find many positives after losing to D.C. United, a team at the bottom of the standings, but Chivas USA showed tenaciousness in overcoming a 2-1 deficit with a goal from Maykel Galindo, their star striker. Galindo missed a month with an ankle injury and will now try to regain fitness as he looks to return to the starting lineup.
Off Target
New York: Although the Red Bulls defense was able to stifle Houston’s attack, the Dynamo’s lone goal revealed their continuing difficulties. Replays indicate that Ching was most likely offsides before he leveled, but the communication between Mike Petke and his teammates in the back line still appears somewhat off. Holding Houston to only one goal though may instill some confidence in the recently struggling backline.
Chivas USA: The Goats need to address their issues on the backline. In the loss to D.C. United, the Chivas USA midfield struggled with possession throughout the evening, but somehow managed to find themselves at a stalemate on the road with 10 minutes to go. The defense could not seal the victory and allowed Santino Quaranta to earn a penalty kick at the death. One of the factors that have hindered the Chivas USA defense is the lack of continuity during the season. Ante Jazic was injured on opening night and has not returned to the pitch, Jonathan Bornstein is in South Africa, and Martin Vasquez is reportedly uneasy about Carlos Borja’s inexperience when he plays behind Jesus Padilla.
Intangibles
New York: The stands haven’t always been packed, but Red Bull Arena has proven to be a game-changer for the Red Bulls. The five early home victories attest to the impact that the newly built stadium in Harrison has had on the team. There is no reason why this advantage can’t continue when Chivas USA who are currently last in the West arrive in Harrison.
Chivas USA: Chivas USA will be catching New York on a short week, and were the team that snapped New York’s unbeaten streak earlier this season.
Tactics
New York: Expect some adjustments from Hans Backe who has differed from his predecessor Juan Carlos Osorio in his use of a consistent lineup. John Wolyniec will pair Angel for the second consecutive match while Carlos Mendes is replacing a tired Petke in the heart of the defense. One change in the 4-4-2 that will please those enamored with the Baby Bulls is the addition of Tony Tchani for the injured Dane Richards. The promising midfielder has impressed in the Open Cup and after playing most of Wednesday’s match, he showed his readiness to perform in the league.
Chivas USA: Chivas USA has come out in a 4-4-1-1 during the last few games resulting in an advantage in possession, but they have left themselves vulnerable to counterattacks. After Lining up Mariano Trujillo was lined up on the left versus D.C., I expect that he will return to the right defensive position, where he is most comfortable.
Prediction
New York: I see the impressive home record for the Red Bulls to only increase after the exhilarating midweek victory. 2-1 to New York with John Wolyniec scoring his first of the season and Joel Lindpere rifling in another after cooling off as of late.
Chivas USA: New York 2-2 Chivas USA: Though Jonathan Bornstein is recognized more for his offensive attributes than for his defensive prowess, it is evident that the Chivas USA backline is missing him immensely as a deterrent to would be opposing attackers. Tim Ream and the Red Bull has had their struggles of late as well, meaning that this encounter will most likely be decided by errors in the defense.
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New York Red Bulls Vs Chivas USA: Head To Head Preview
