Chivas snap five-game skid in New York

Published on August 15, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chivas USA snapped a five-game losing streak Saturday night, beating the hapless New York Red Bulls 2-0 on goals by Maykel Galindo in the first half and Eduardo Lillingston in second-half stoppage time. The two strikes were an offensive explosion of sorts for the visitors, who had scored only twice in six games heading into the match.

Galindo's winner came 15 minutes in when Chukwudi Chijindu spotted his strike partner making a run to the far post. Chijindu curled a beautiful ball from the right flank behind the retreating Red Bulls defenders that found Galindo in stride. After a touch to settle, he slotted the ball past New York 'keeper Bouna Coundoul to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Chivas USA produced the game's first scoring chance in the seventh minute. Galindo played a neat give-and-go with Chijindu on the right side, about 30 yards from New York's goal. Chijindu's quick return pass released Galindo behind the Red Bulls back line, but before the Cuban could shoot, defender Carlos Johnson slid in and cleared the ball away with a powerful tackle.

The Red Bulls came close eight minutes later. Albert Celades delivered a cross from the left side that found John Wolyniec's head, but the forward's effort sailed just wide of the far post.

A few minutes after grabbing the lead, Chivas nearly doubled its advantage. Sacha Kljestan collected the rebound off a Chijindu effort near the corner flag and found Jesse Marsch at the top of the area. The captain sent a well-hit shot toward the upper right corner but Coundoul, at full extension, was just able to tip it over the crossbar.

The Red Bulls almost equalized through Dane Richards in the 32nd minute. The speedy Jamaican received a through ball on right side of the Chivas box, but he slid his attempt wide of Zach Thornton's goal.

Thornton was making his first appearance since picking up a quad injury at last month's MLS All-Star Game. As a precaution, he didn't take any goal kicks during the match, instead having teammate Jonathan Bornstein, who played in the middle of Chivas defense rather than his usual left side, do it for him.

Richards came close again a minute later when Thornton coughed up possession in the corner after coming out of his area for an attempted clearance. But Richards missed the target once more, this time from an acute angle with the goalmouth unattended.

Chivas took a 1-0 advantage into the tunnel at halftime but not without a bit of late controversy. In the 45th minute, Kljestan appeared to have been fouled inside the Red Bulls box. But instead of pointing to the spot, referee Kevin Stott issued the attacker a yellow card for diving.

Fifteen minutes into a dreary second half, Chivas clearly began to protect its slim lead. But defender Carey Talley nearly gave it away with a wayward back pass that Wolyniec intercepted. Fortunately for Chivas, though, the Bulls' striker couldn't capitalize on Talley's blunder.

In the 72nd, Wolyniec was at it again, but his snap header off a Ernst Oebster service stayed out. Then it was Seth Stammler's turn to squander an opportunity, mis-hitting a loose ball wide of Thornton's frame.

The Red Bulls, with the worst record in all of MLS, had several other half-chances later but never looked as though they'd score. Finally, Lillingston put the hosts out of their misery in the second minute of stoppage time, sealing Chivas' victory after a neat passing play between subs Michael Lahoud and Gerson Mayen and tapping the ball into an empty net.

With the win, Chivas USA improves to 9-7-3, with 30 points. The Red Bulls fell to fell to 2-16-4 on the season.

Chivas USA, who won their first match since June 6, will play host to Toronto FC next Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. The Red Bulls entertain FC Dallas on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 3 p.m.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 15, 2009


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