Chivas USA Post-Game

An inexperienced goalkeeper, missing bodies that finally caught up with the team and players who weren't on form collectively contributed to the first-ever Chivas USA loss to Real Salt Lake in Carson.

"I don't think we were sharp, we had quite a few guys that weren't sharp and I didn't think the commitment was good from the get-go," said Preki, adding that's why he hauled off Jonathan Bornstein and Atiba Harris at half time. "Those guys were not sharp."

So why didn't Preki bring in Jorge Flores, who has three goals in the last four games, but couldn't even get on the field tonight for some reason?

"He's not a forward," was Preki's simple answer, although he has sure looked like one. And, um, sharp, too.

Did the absence of regular starter Brad Guzan contribute to the loss? "It could have been different, yes."

Not surprisingly, Preki joined Toronto's John Carver and the Galaxy's Ruud Gullit (what else do these three have in common?) in criticizing the decision by MLS to continue its season as if the rest of the planet was irrelevant despite the World Cup qualifiers that have winnowed the ranks of the best players in the league.

"I'm not in favor of (scheduling games on World Cup qualifying days) although I don't have much say," he said "Nobody is asking me."

Which is part of the problem. It's an arrangement that makes MLS look bush league and gives Euro Snobs yet another reason to doubt its credibility.

Preki only discovered Sasha Kljestan was available for selection at 4 p.m. Saturday leading one to believe he will not even dress Sunday for the World Cup qualifier: "Maybe I'll play a role off the bench," he said hopefully.

Or maybe not.

Kljestan observed once Bob Bradley learned Clint Dempsey and DaMarcus Beasley were healthy, he was allowed to play for Chivas USA.

Any positives, Preki?

"At least it's good to see some of these guys on the way back. It's going to take a few weeks until they are sharp. We don't have a few weeks."

Jesse Marsch agreed with the boss that the team didn't look (ahem) sharp:

"First half was lackluster. ... Even though at times it looked like we had the ball a lot and were pressing the game we didn't have enough guys who had high quality games.

Marsch seems to sense the season is threatening to slip through the fingers of Chivas USA already, with just over a third of the season gone. Chivas USA now has six losses on the year, just one fewer than they had all of last season.

"It's frustrating losing at home and not really finding our way other than the three-game stretch (of consecutive wins)," he said. "It has been a tough year for us."

The (misleading) stats.

Game story
(from an RSL perspective).