Chivas extends league lead with win at San Jose

Published on May 3, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Zach Thornton got his league leading fifth shutout of the season as Chivas USA rode a Justin Braun goal to a 1-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium. Chivas USA coach Preki has said that "defense wins championships," and if that's true, the Red-and-White could be putting some silverware on the shelf in 2009. Chivas USA have allowed only three goals in eight MLS matches so far this season while compiling a 6-1-1 record, best in the league.

San Jose, now winless in its six matches in all competitions, started brightly, looking to exploit the space left open when Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein would push up field from his left back spot.

The Earthquakes almost went on top in the second minute, when Ramiro Corrales found Shea Salinas open on the right wing for a shot from the top of the penalty area. Thornton got a piece of Salinas' low shot, but it was the left post that made the stop before the Chivas defense cleared the ball away.

Eight minutes later, Bobby Convey played Arturo Alvarez into the box from the right side, but Thornton held his ground and made the stop.

In the 23rd minute a chip into the box dropped to Alvarez eight yards in front of goal. His half-volley was lobbed over Thornton, but the Chivas 'keeper was able to recover and push it over the crossbar.

Chivas USA started to push forward at the half-hour mark. In the 32nd minute, Paulo Nagamura fed Bojan Stepanovic with room to run down the right wing. Stepanovic cut inside the penalty area for a left-footed shot that forced San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon to get down to make the save.

Three minutes later, Stepanovic slipped a pass through to Braun making a run into the box. Braun's shot was knocked away by Cannon, the rebound rolling into open space on the right side. Nagamura won the race for the loose ball, but his shot banged off the right post.

At the start of the second half, there was a scary moment when San Jose's Chris Leitch and Bornstein tangled along the left sideline. Leitch took a knock as both players tumbled to the ground, and lay motionless for several minutes before being helped off the field by the San Jose staff.

Seconds after the restart, Chivas USA got on the scoreboard. In the 53rd minute, Bornstein sent in a cross from the left side, and when Cannon and defender Nick Garcia had a miscommunication as to who would play it, Braun took full advantage to tap in his first goal of the year from seven yards out.

San Jose almost equalized a minute later when Corrales got on the end of a Simon Elliott free kick inside the six-yard box, but his volley was right at Thornton.

Then Braun had another chance in the 58th minute. Busting into the penalty area from the right side, his shot from just inside the box beat Cannon, but rolled wide of the left post.

Hanging on to their 1-0 lead, Chivas were able to get some minutes for players battling back from injury. Maykel Galindo came on for Braun in the 60th minute, and Sasha Victorine made his first appearance of the season, coming on for Lillingston in the 74th minute. Rookie of the Year candidate (and current MLS assist leader) Gerson Mayen later replaced Stepanovic in the 79th.

While Chivas held firm on the defensive end, they looked to kill off the game through counterattacks. In the 80th minute, Victorine had an open shot from 15 yards out that sailed high. Two minutes later, Mayen's cross found Sacha Kljestan open inside the arc, and Kljestan volleyed a bullet that flew just over the crossbar.

San Jose thought they'd found an equalizer through Ryan Johnson in the 81st minute, but the play was ruled offside.

Chivas USA maintained possession throughout most of the five minutes of injury time, and their 1-0 victory extends their current shutout string to 234 minutes. The Red-and-White now return home to face Real Salt Lake next Saturday at The Home Depot Center. The Earthquakes hit the road next week, playing at the New York Red Bulls on Friday night.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 3, 2009


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