New York Red Bulls 2 Chivas USA 3
After narrowly missing out on a point last weekend at the home of the best team in MLS, Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA went one better – and sent a message in the process to their next opponents, the Western Conference-leading Galaxy, – beating the Eastern Conference leaders Sunday who lost on their own turf this season for the first time this evening.
It was the perfect response to the Galaxy’s best performance of the season
this past weekend, a dominating 4-1 home win over lowly Kansas, and sets up a perfectly poised SuperClasico Saturday against the Galaxy at Home Depot Center. Chivas USA has only one loss in their last seven games.
Much-maligned Chivas USA striker Justin Braun finally got around to scoring his first goal of the season – and his second and his third – forcing New York to respond at home and finding them wanting.
New York’s reaction to the loss was somewhat condescending – suggesting Chivas USA had not as much won the game as they had lost it. But Chivas USA is a tight group who will surprise some people with their resilience – they sure surprised New York – and created chances the Red Bulls proved incapable of fashioning.
“This group is unbelievably motivated,” said Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser. “They have tremendous character. If you look at this season so far, some of the results we’ve had, the effort with which we’ve played, they’re extremely motivated, and a focused group. They’re very much concentrating on getting better and better every week, and finding a way to get results. Tonight was a prime example of a team that gutted out a result.”
Notable: Chris Cortez, who Chivas USA officially announced they had signed around 5:30 p.m., – good thing the start of the game was delayed – made his MLS debut as a 69th minute sub after scoring four goals in four reserve team games. Cortez had worked his way up through the youth academy.
The highlights:
More Red Bull reaction:
