Finishing plagued Chivas USA just five days ago in a tough 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. The Red-and-White, though, had no problems finishing their chances and finishing off the Chicago Fire on Thursday.
Sacha Kljestan and Justin Braun scored in a six-minute span of the first half and Chivas held off the Fire 2-0 at The Home Depot Center. Chivas USA had to close out the match with just 10 men as midfielder Paulo Nagamura was sent off late in the first half.
It was the rookie Braun who had the most blown opportunities against Real Salt Lake, but like the rest of the squad Braun did well to focus on Thursday's match only.
"After the game I just kind of threw it away. It happens," Braun said. "A lot of the older guys told me to not worry about it, to just keep moving, keep playing my game so I just kind of came in today with that completely out of my mind and just tried to do my best to help my team get the three points."
Braun's goal was the second of the season and helped Chivas USA put its mark on the match. Although the club's play dropped off somewhat after the goal, overall Chivas USA controlled Thursday's match with relative ease.
The defense played a large role in the match. With veteran defender Claudio Suarez taking his usual spot in central defense and once again donning the captain's armband, the Chivas defense was well-organized throughout the match. While the Fire outshot Chivas 10-8, Chicago winger Chris Rolfe had his side's only shot on goal.
The defensive organization was central to the club's victory.
"The guys did good tonight. We shut down their game," goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "Guys like Rolfie, Justin (Mapp), Blanco, Chad Barrett -- those guys are dangerous guys, especially when you've got a guy like Blanco pulling the strings for your team. You know they're going to create chances and we did a good job of shutting that down."
Barrett missed on a pair of early opportunities but Chivas USA took advantage of theirs. Ante Razov set up both goals. On the first, Razov found Kljestan on the right side of the penalty area and Kljestan did not hesitate to bury his attempt.
"When Ante gets the ball, I know he has good vision so I try to make a run off of him," Kljestan said. "He played a good ball. He kind of baited in Gutierrez and Gutierrez stepped on me and he played it right to me and I took a good first touch. When the goalie came out I just tried to put it far post."
Chivas USA went for the kill six minutes later. Raphael Wicky started the play off in the middle of the park by finding Francisco Mendoza on the left side. Mendoza then set the goal in motion.
"He played a great ball to Ante down that line and I knew Ante was going to put across for me," Braun said. "So I just tried to make that run near post to get myself an option to try and get the ball. I felt the guy on me ... but I was able to get the goal."
Still, Chivas USA had to deal with a red card. Paulo Nagamura picked up two yellow cards in the final 17 minutes of the first half and was sent off.
"I think it might have been a little bit harsh. I thought his first yellow was a little bit harsh because it was his second foul of the game," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "If I remember correctly they had like three or four fouls on our side in the first half and nobody gets a yellow card. Our player gets two fouls and gets yellow card."
The club had 15 minutes to gather a game plan for the second half but the players did well to carry it out and finish off the match.
"Everything we asked of them at halftime they came on the field and executed pretty good," Preki said. "We were very professional and knew how to play the game with a two-goal lead."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
