While Chivas USA suffered their first defeat on Wednesday at the hands of Toronto FC, the club remains atop MLS with 13 points from six matches. Much of the Red-and-White's success has come from its ability to shut down opposing offenses. The team has allowed just three goals in 540 minutes of play.
Chivas USA's stalwart defending is anchored by Shavar Thomas and Carey Talley, who have started together in central defense for five of six games thus far in 2009. Their budding relationship has grown into a formidable obstacle for any team that's looking to get at Zach Thornton's net.
"It's been good," said Talley. "Shavar is a big defensive presence and he reads the game well. We're also friends off the field and that makes it easy to communicate with him."
Talley, an 11-year MLS veteran, was acquired by Chivas USA from Real Salt Lake on May 8, 2008. He quickly became an important part of the squad, starting 16 games for the Red-and-White, including both playoff games against his former club.
While he played right back in nearly all of his sixteen games in 2008, Chivas USA head coach Preki has moved Talley into the middle for 2009 to partner with Thomas.
"He's a big part of our defense," said Preki. "He's playing a different role, he's playing in the middle, and I think he's done a pretty good job."
Shavar Thomas arrived at Chivas USA almost exactly a year before Talley, on May 3, 2007, after a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Often a selected as a member of the Jamaican national team, Thomas has already been mentioned as an early candidate for 2009 MLS Defender of the Year.
"He's a good guy, a guy that everybody likes," said Talley of Thomas. "He always brings a good attitude to training and a smile on his face."
Thomas spent most of last year working with Claudio Suarez and Bobby Burling in central defense, but has adapted well to playing with Talley.
"We understand each other," said Thomas. "We make sure that we're on the same page when we're on the field. It's something we do in practice and we work very hard at it.
"We're both guys that like to read the game and organize things. I think we compliment each other well. Carey is a vocal guy and a leader and I think I possess the same qualities."
While Thomas and Talley hadn't met before both were came to Chivas USA, the two were actually traded for one another in 2004. FC Dallas sent Thomas to Kansas City in exchange for Talley's services.
"We've never really talked about [the trade]," joked Talley. "Somehow we passed in the night."
The two central defenders will be back in action on Saturday against FC Dallas as Chivas USA look to rebound from the loss to Toronto.
Jeffrey King is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
