Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake
Chivas USA meets fellow 2005 expansion team Real Salt Lake on a slightly chilly night at Home Depot Center.
Chivas USA are unbeaten in their last seven games over RSL, although both teams are coming off identical 1-1 ties in their respective season openers.
Chivas will switch to a 3-5-2 formation with Jim Curtin, Shavar Thomas and Jonathan Bornstein retaining their places in defense and leaving Lawson Vaughn the odd man out.
New signing Chris Pozniak makes his Chivas USA debut in midfield with Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura and Panchito Mendoza all returning for the second consecutive game in the middle of the park.
Last year's top scorer Maykel Galindo makes his first start, but with Ante Razov out injured former RSL forward Atiba Harris moves into his slot.
Alecko Eskandarian is on the bench.
Real Salt Lake sees Nick Rimando in goal with Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Argentine Matias Mantilla and Ian Joy starting in the same back four formation as in the opening game.
Kyle Beckerman, playmaker Javier Morales, Carey Talley and 10-year MLS veteran Dema Kovalenko comprise the midfield.
Up front it's former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley partnered with Kenny Deuchar, formerly with Scotland's Gretna.
Another fairly sparse crowd for Chivas USA, illustrating how much work they have ahead of them.