Chivas USA travelled to Texas on Saturday night and played their third game in just over a week against the struggling FC Dallas. With tired legs on a hot Texas night, The Goats ground out a goalless tie with the home side in a game that will be easily forgotten. With both teams seemingly struggling in the heat, any real quality was lacking in this match and the majority of viewers will have been glad to hear the final whistle. FC Dallas dominated and had significantly more chances than Chivas but both sides just didn’t do enough to earn all three points and a tie was arguably a fair result.
The Goats were back on the road for the first time since their 1-1 tie with New York (23rd of May), and with mixed results at home this year an away fixture was again a respite for the fans. However, taking into consideration that Chivas were playing their third game in a week, and the match reports continually highlighting the temperature of Texas, a classic game was by no means expected. With FC Dallas struggling at the foot of the Western Conference and Chivas USA trying to build on their separation from it, a cagey affair was always going to be on the cards.
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy; James Riley, Danny Califf, Rauwshan McKenzie, Ante Jazic; Ben Zemanski, Oswaldo Minda, Alejandro Moreno, Paolo Cardozo (Casey Townsend, 77); Cesar Romero (Laurent Courtois, 60), Juan Agudelo (Nick LaBrocca, 63). Unused subs: Blair Gavin, Tim Melia, Peter Vagenas, Jorge Villafaña.
Robin Fraser started this one with same line-up that defeated Montreal just days earlier however the side was still missing some key players, most notably Juan Pablo Angel. Despite this, it was still a relatively attacking line-up and one that would have perhaps not been on show away from home earlier in the season. Nevertheless, Chivas USA seem to have mastered the art of playing out a low-scoring match (in their favor or not) and this was game was no different.
In what Chivas fans have witnessed all too often at home this year, the first half unsurprisingly ended in a stalemate. Both sides did have their chances though and Chivas’ best chance of the half, and indeed the entire game, came in the 12th minute. A Juan Agudelo shot, parried by Dallas keeper Hartman, fell to the on-rushing Alejandro Moreno but the Venezuelan’s rebound attempt was deflected and went out for a corner via the post. FC Dallas on the other hand, were resigned to a couple of long range efforts but they almost paid off. Brek Shea went close with a long-range strike before Jackson almost caught Kennedy off his line with another ambitious effort.
0-0 at the half and the tale of this game was beginning to show. Chivas USA were playing to their strengths, soaking up any pressure and keeping it tight defensively. Unfortunately though this only highlighted that once again Chivas USA were poor offensively. In the second half, FC Dallas again dominated possession and had significantly more chances than the Rojiblancos. With 13 shots on target to Chivas’ 2 the home side was clearly creating more chances but, in fairness, both teams were failing to hit the target.
As the half wore on, it became clear that a victory was out the question for the Rojiblancos as FC Dallas started to up their game in the hope of snatching all three points. In the closing stages Dallas went close with a couple of attacks but couldn’t find their way past Dan Kennedy, who again proved why he is the number 1 contender for GK spot in the MLS All Star team. Luck was perhaps on Chivas’ side though, as the hosts will feel aggrieved to have not earned a penalty in stoppage time as Danny Califf seemed to fell Castillo in the box. The referee, who stood close by, waved away the appeals and blew the whistle for full time.
This game was by no means a classic and to describe it as boring would probably be an understatement; however it did have some positive aspects that will leave Chivas USA fans happy. I want to end on a positive note though so here are the negative ones first. Chivas USA were once again very poor going forward. With only 2 attempts on goal in the entire match, they never really looked like scoring after Moreno’s first half effort. The addition of Juan Agudelo has evidently brought goals to the side but the overall quality of attacks is still lacking. Robin Fraser has several options up front, and in midfield, but it is obviously taking his players time to produce any consistent attacking performances. The defense has been crucial to Chivas’ results this year; however, fans are beginning to become frustrated with the level of excitement that Chivas USA games produce.
Putting this to one side though, Chivas USA earned a valuable point under some difficult circumstances. Three tough games in the space of a week, with the final one being away from home, and a hard-fought point is nothing to complain about. The Goats were tired, and to grind out a tie with a shutout against a team looking to fight their way off the bottom of the Conference is extremely pleasing. To make the playoffs, you do not only have to win games but you have to grind out results when you are not playing well. Chivas USA did this on Saturday night and take a point back to California that sets things up nicely in the Western Conference. With 19 points from 16 games, they are tied in sixth place with Colorado and only six points separate them from fourth-placed Seattle. With their next two games at home (Vancouver & Portland) Chivas USA’s recent form could eventually put them where they are striving to be. And that’s without even playing that well.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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