Chivas USA dramatically increased their hopes for a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs while putting a severe damper on those of D.C. United with a well-deserved 2-0 victory Saturday night at RFK Stadium.
The Red-and-White saw two late season acquisitions, Maicon Santos in the first half and Jesus Padilla shortly after halftime, at the center of both goals to put away the home side, which has now lost its last three league matches, all at home.
United did not help themselves in the second stanza when Ben Olsen retaliated to a Yamith Cuesta foul and was ejected in the 65th minute.
The match opened at a high speed and stayed that way throughout as cool temperatures and a comfortable breeze pervaded. However, as both teams probed often in the first quarter-hour, neither was able to connect with a substantial opportunity and pose a serious threat.
That changed shortly thereafter as Sacha Kljestan played an elegant but simple ball through the right channel behind United fullback Marc Burch to a running Justin Braun, but the second-year player blasted a right-footed shot into the side netting from a tight angle near the 6-yard box.
Klejestan found Braun again some four minutes later, as the burly striker jumped high at the far post to get onto a cross from the left flank, but goalkeeper Milos Kocic parried the downward snap header away with a sharp reflex save.
Braun continued his onslaught on the United goal, skimming the crossbar with a long range shot in the 32nd minute but it was his running mate up front who helped finally broke the ice just seconds later aided by a healthy dose of good fortune.
After Kljestan won a loose ball on the left flank, the U.S. international played another quality through ball, this time to Santos, who powered his way through Julius James. His left-footed shot hit the left post but banked off the back of rookie goalkeeper Kocic before slipping over the goal line for an own goal.
United finally threatened in the late stages of the half with a late flurry off a corner kick. A wide open Dejan Jakovic gathered a loose ball well enough to get off a shot near the penalty spot that was going wide right, yet was nearly redirected in by Boyzzz Khumalo at the right post.
With United poised to make a surge with their playoff lives in the balance, Chivas answered an early United thrust in the second half with Padilla's first goal of the season in just his seventh game in MLS.
Jonathon Bornstein floated what seemed like a fairly innocuous free kick into the penalty area from inside the center circle that Padilla did well to got his head onto near the 6-yard box in a challenge with Marc Burch. But as the two skied for the challenge, the ball deflected off Burch's head and back directly down to the eager Padilla, who beat Kocic inside the far post with a left-footed shot to double the lead.
With United pressing to change the outlook of the match, their hopes of the comeback were throttled when Olsen was ejected for kicking the ball at and striking Cuesta after the Colombian elbowed the veteran midfielder violently in the back and knocking him down on the right touchline at midfield. As Olsen got up, and with yellow card already in hand from referee Kevin Stott aimed for Cuesta, Olsen put the ball down and fired it into the back of the retreating Cuesta, forcing Stott to make the quick switch in stride to the red.
Despite being a man short, United got the large crowd at RFK Stadium back in the game with a great opportunity to equalize in the 78th when Chivas 'keeper Zach Thornton misjudged a Santino Quaranta corner. But Luciano Emilio's reactionary header popped straight up in the air, allowing the veteran to recover and pick the ball out of the air, averting disaster.
Emilio had an even better opportunity three minutes later, combining with Quaranta again, but this time getting a plum look from just 10 yards away. But his stumbling left-footed shot drifted harmlessly high and wide.
Chivas USA return home next Saturday to face Kansas City in the first of two consecutive home games and three of four to finish out the season while United have two full weeks off before taking on Eastern Conference rival Columbus.
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com
