Final: Earthquakes at Chivas USA
Chivas USA 2 San Jose Earthquakes 2
Chivas USA Coach Preki's body language in the closing minutes of this game (off of bench, hands on hips, hand smacked into palm, etc.) told you all you needed to know about the coach's frustration and the recognition this was a perfect (lost) opportunity to put the Galaxy and Dynamo under pressure Sunday.
Chivas USA has, at least temporarily, got a tenuous one point lead atop the Western Conference, but Preki just couldn't solve the Earthquakes' defense and get the winner. It was not for want of trying - Maicon Santos, Eduardo Lillingston and Jesus Padilla all came on as second half subs - but frankly Chivas USA lacked the killer instinct that will be so crucial in the playoffs.
Santos was to blame for missing two good scoring opportunities inside one minute.
Braun summed up Chivas USA's night of futility when he failed in stoppage time to put a shot on frame with only the goalkeeper to beat, instead allowing a diving Andrew Weber to swipe it off his feet. Less Braun, more subtlety needed, one would think. BTW, he was chosen man of the match!
A disappointing game and disappointing attendance given the import of this game, too: 12,316.
More later.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. 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 and follow him on Twitter.
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