The Wizards enjoyed the bulk of the possession early on, with Chivas USA perhaps missing the experienced and calming influence of suspended midfielder Jesse Marsch, the only ever-present in the team’s starting line-up until tonight.

Chivas USA was not without its opportunities on the counter attack, although Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman has yet to achieve 1,000 saves (in fact he didn’t have to make a single one).

Overall it was a fairly slow opening half, with the game’s first shot on target not occurring until the 38th minute, when the Wizards’ Eddie Johnson prompted one from Chivas USA’s Brad Guzan.

Wizards forward Ryan Pore came out in the 27th minute, suffering from blurred vision. Argentine rookie Eloy Colombano replaced him.