Colorado Rapids 1, Chivas USA 3 | MLS Match Recap

COMMERCE CITY, Colo.- Take that, Colorado Rapids.

Substitute Marvin Chavez scored two second half goals against his old club to help Chivas to a 3-1 victory at a snow-covered Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sunday afternoon.

Traded to Chivas USA by the Rapids on Thursday, Chavez took advantage of his first appearance in red and white, scoring two goals against the team he reportedly requested a trade from last week.

Ex-Rapid midfielder Martin Rivero set up Erick Torres for his eighth goal of the season in the 56^th minute, and then Chavez blasted home his two goals to send Chivas to their first win since their season opener on March 9^th.

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With Mother Nature making the elements difficult on Mother’s Day, scoring chances were few and far between in the early going. Making his first start in nearly a full calendar year, Rapids forward Danny Mwanga had the first chance of the game in the 18^th minute, but his open shot went well over the crossbar.

In the 25^th minute, Rapids rookie midfielder Dillon Serna had the best chance of the half for either side, with his shot from 20 yards out barely missing Dan Kennedy’s goal. Serna had another crack on goal eight minutes later, but the 20-year-old fired high again.

Rapids midfielder Jose Mari zig-zagged his way around two Chivas defenders to blast the half’s only shot on goal, but Kennedy made the save on the Spaniard.

But with the wind and snow picking up as the half wore on, scoring opportunities were snuffed out as a result, and the game was scoreless at the break.

After not registering a single scoring chance in the first half, however, the visitors capitalized on their first chance of the match in the 56^th minute. A simple cross from midfielder Martin Rivero – making his first start for the goats after his acquisition from Colorado - found a wide open Torres who headed in the goal (WATCH).

Then, the floodgates opened.

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Chavez sprinted down the heart of the field, taking advantage of a huge gaffe in the Colorado back line to sprint 70 yards down the field and chipped over Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin for the 2-0 lead (WATCH).

Nine minutes later, Chavez started dancing after his second goal of the game. In the 76^th minute, Marc Burch mis-played a back pass to Irwin, and the Honduran international pounced, firing home for his second goal of the game and ensuring a happy trip back to L.A. for the visitors (WATCH).

Deshorn Brown netted a 93^rd minute consolation, but it was far too little, too late for the Rapids (WATCH).

The Rapids travel to Salt Lake City for the opening round of the Subaru Rocky Mountain Cup on Saturday night (9:30 p.m. MT, watch it on MLS Live), while Chivas finishes a two-game road swing with a trip to face FC Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET, watch it on MLS Live), where Chivas coach Wilmer Cabrera will face his old boss, FC Dallas skipper Oscar Pareja.

Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
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