Returning to the Home Depot Center for their second game in four days, Chivas USA managed to resurrect the kind of battling performance that was earning them points before the international break. Welcoming Montreal Impact to California after their 4-1 thumping of Seattle, The Goats secured only their second home win of the season with a 2-1 victory over the expansion side. With goals from Alejandro Moreno and Felipe Martins ending the first half honors even, super sub Juan Pablo Angel bagged the winner with eight minutes remaining to give the Rojiblancos all three points. Considering how tight things are at the bottom end of the Western Conference, three points, especially at home, was a relief after such a disappointing defeat to Real Salt Lake a few days earlier.
On Saturday, Chivas USA returned from the lengthy international break looking to maintain their good run of results against league leaders Real Salt Lake. Unfortunately, they stumbled, and were on the end of a 3-0 defeat where they were simply outclassed by a better side. Luckily though, they had a quick turnaround of games and had a second chance at building on their sixth place spot on Wednesday night. Bearing in mind Chivas USA’s home results have been typified by late mistakes, hanging on for a 2-1 win at the HDC left fans joyous in a style fitting a win of a bigger margin.
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy; James Riley, Danny Califf, Rauwshan McKenzie, Ante Jazic; Ben Zemanski, Oswaldo Minda, Alejandro Moreno (Peter Vagenas, 86), Paolo Cardozo (Juan Pablo Angel, 77); Juan Agudelo, Cesar Romero (Jorge Villafaña, 77). Unused subs: Laurent Courtois, Blair Gavin, Scott Gordon, Tim Melia.
Chivas USA started the first half well and the tempo of the game was more in their favor than it was on Saturday night. At times they looked dangerous going forward, and Ben Zemanski in particular went close with a couple of long-range efforts (something that in my opinion should be attempted more often). This resigned Montreal to counter-attacks and they also had some decent chances but could not find their way past potential All-Star Dan Kennedy. Fans were all too aware of the fact that a first half at the HDC can be lacking in entertainment i.e. goals. Despite the Impact eventually equalizing, Chivas taking the lead and going into the half at 1-1 was actually quite encouraging.
The Goats took the lead in the 15th minute and, to Montreal’s frustration no doubt, through a fairly simple play. A Cesar Romero corner fell to Juan Agudelo in the box and the striker flicked the ball goalwards via Alejandro Moreno’s thigh. The forwards then shot away in different directions both seemingly claiming the goal. The goal was quite rightly credited to Moreno, but overall it was just pleasing to see Chivas USA score from a corner. With Romero and Agudelo the striking partnership chosen for this game and a few key players either injured or on the bench an early lead had the fans excited.
Fans hopeful then that this lead could be taken in to the half though were to be left disappointed as the Goats conceded with just 3 minutes of the 1st remaining. With Arnaud steaming down the wing, he sent in a great low cross that was expertly turned into the net by Felipe Martins. A great cross, a great finish but poor defending from the backline of Chivas USA. Nevertheless, although conceding once again near the end of a half a 1-1 score line was a welcome change from the usual lackluster 0-0 that we see quite frequently.
Decision making, passing and the overall tempo of Chivas’ play was much improved from the RSL game and with LA Galaxy defeating the Utah side earlier that night; Chivas were at risk of losing their prolonged spot above their rivals. The second half would then be pivotal in pointing Chivas in either direction of the conference. With both teams in almost equal amounts of shots, they also shared 13 and 4 shots on/off target respectively…things were close. One thing they were also both guilty of though was complacency. Plays and passes became sloppy and perhaps the two games in four days were taking its toll on both teams. The general feeling after Saturday during the game (on social media outlets at least) was that substitutes were made too late to salvage any chance of a point against RSL. Again fans seemed frustrated that this wasn’t the case against Montreal, but it was indeed the substitutions however late that inspired Chivas to all three points in this game.
Jorge Villafaña and Juan Pablo Angel were brought on for Romero and Cardozo and just four minutes after their 78th minute introduction made an immediate contribution. In the 82nd minute after some good work on the flank Villafaña sent in a left field cross that was headed home expertly by JPA. The Colombian rolled back the years with a perfectly measured header whilst backing away from the goal. Riled by Chivas’ lead Montreal countered and tried to a rescue a point but the Goats were able to hold on for the victory.
This was a massive three points for Chivas USA. After collecting a decent haul of points before the international break things were brought to a halt against RSL. The onus was Robin Fraser and his men to make a quick improvement and get things back on track against Montreal. Although not a great performance it was still a great win. Chivas worked incredibly hard for the three points and while Montreal will have felt they deserved more out of the game, Chivas grinded out the victory. This was especially pleasing as they have so often surrendered any sort of points late on at home to stun the home support. To see them successfully take a lead and protect it at the HDC sent fans home more than happy. Much like Saturday however, despite the positive result, attention quickly changes towards the next game only three days later. The Rojiblancos travel to take on Western Conference strugglers FC Dallas in a game that could either push Chivas further towards the playoff places, or send them back towards the bottom again. With such a short turnaround in games again, hopefully this suits Chivas as they look to build on what is becoming a steady stride towards the top half of the table.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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