CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA lost a game over the weekend, but gained perhaps something far more valuable through the reintegration of key players.
The Rojiblancos closed the month of July with three road games in 12 days, beginning with a trip to Canada, then a cross-country trek to Washington D.C. before wrapping up the busy itinerary up with a visit to Colorado. That constant back and forth made for some weary legs and disappointing results.
On Sunday, the Goats were disappointed again following a 1-0 home loss to FC Dallas, but in the process regained some lineup regulars.
“[The travel] was an overload for some of the guys we have,” head coach Wilmer Cabrera told reporters. “We had some possibilities to rest them and we lost two games in which we didn’t play well. … We tried to recover and rest everyone. We looked good [Sunday]; the team and everyone that stepped on the field, even the subs that came on, were fresh and live. That’s important.”
Chivas USA were missing the likes of Marvin Chavez, Oswaldo Minda, Mauro Rosales and Tony Lochhead from the lineup against the Rapids on July 25, but they all returned to action Sunday.
“It’s important for us to get these guys back on the pitch,” goalkeeper Dan Kennedy told reporters. “We rode that four-game win streak pretty hard and I think that was taxing on everybody. We showed we’re back and recovered. Now, we’ve got to get some points in Portland [this week].”
Rosales, who had 90-minute showings in each of the first two legs of the three-game road swing last month, played the final 32 minutes Sunday and seemed to provide energy in the attacking third. The club's leading assist man made the Goats more dangerous through the right wing.
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“I felt much, much better than last game I couldn’t play,” Rosales told reporters.
Chavez, meanwhile, opened up the Dallas defense with his speed. He was knocked down by a hard challenge early in game before being taken out in the 69th minute in favor of Eric Avila, who had also been battling an ankle sprain.
“Marvin, he’s been obviously tired from the World Cup and traveling, but he made an effort to play some games,” Cabrera said. “We don’t want to overload him.”
