Final: Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake
An exacting move was clinically concluded by Atiba Harris for his first Chivas USA goal after 55 minutes, giving the home team the go ahead goal en route to an eventual 3-1 victory Saturday night in Carson and sole possession of the Western Conference lead after all of two games. Panchito Mendoza had sent a ball wide to Sacha Klejsten to begin the move, whose cross was met perfectly by Harris for the goal.
Chivas USA received a scare after Real Salt Lake pulled one back seconds later via their Scottish striker dubbed "Dr. Goals" - Kenny Deuchar - a real life physician, but it wasn't enough.
Alecko Eskandarian sealed the victory in second half stoppage time with an individual effort on a breakaway as RSL pushed unsuccessfully forward in search of a late equalizer.
It was a justly deserved victory in a game Chivas USA largely controlled, if not dominated.
Updated:
Almost to a man, Chivas USA players repeated the mantra that they should have played better, but would happily take the three points at this stage of the season.
A sampling:
*"I don't think we played our best," said Coach Preki. "I think we can play a lot better."
*"It wasn't pretty, it wasn't our best game by any means, but we had chances and put them away," said goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
*"We're happy with the three points, but we're not happy with the way we controlled the game," said midfielder Sacha Kljesten.
You get the idea.
Next for Chivas USA: Sigi Schmid and the Columbus Crew next Saturday on the road.
Game details here.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005. The blog of the same name began in 2007. 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 and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook.
I don't know, Nick, but I'd say Chivas was far from dominant in that game. In fact, just about the entire second half, I was wondering which team was the visitors and which team was home.
Nick replies: Point taken. It was kind of a strange game in that I never felt Chivas USA was in any danger of losing (or even drawing), but didn't put RSL away until very, very late. Early season stuff, maybe?