Chivas USA Fall on the Road to FC Dallas 3-1

March 23, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


FRISCO, Texas - Chivas USA (1-1-1) fell, 3-1, to FC Dallas (2-0-1) Saturday night at Toyota Stadium in their first road test of the regular season. FCD took a two-nil lead midway through the second half on scores from Fabian Castillo and Je-Vaughn Watson. The Red-and-White managed to cut the lead in half on forward Erick "Cubo" Torres' team-high third goal of the season, but the comeback attempt was turned away when Michel came off the bench and extended the lead for FCD.

With his start in goal tonight, Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy surpassed former club standout Sacha Kljestan for second-most starts in club history with 112 and also tied the former Red-and-White midfielder for all-time club appearances with 114.

The Rojiblancos looked to get into the attacking third and had success in the first half, particularly down the left side. First-year midfielder Leandro Barrera was able to push the ball deep into FCD territory and in the 22nd minute worked the ball near the end line and got off a shot from outside the edge of the short area, but goalkeeper Chris Seitz was able to turn the threat away. In the 26th minute, left back Tony Lochhead looked to generate the attack from the same sector, as his cross was driven from the left sideline but unable to connect with the intended target.

Locked in a scoreless tie, midfielder Mauro Rosales attempted to add to his team-high three assists when he played a ball into the box on a free kick in the 39th minute intended for Torres. As the striker cut inside the box to get on the end of the pass, Seitz was able to break up the play to prevent Chivas from getting on the scoresheet. Four minutes later, forward Luke Moore - who made his first MLS start - also tried to link up with Torres, as he led a fast break down the middle of the final third and laid it off to Torres on his right, but once again Seitz was able to withstand the pressure.

FCD went up 2-0 in a span of seven minutes beginning in the 71st minute when Mauro Diaz floated a free kick into the box that was headed by Hendry Thomas to set up Castillo's left-footed shot from short distance. Afterwards, Watson took control of a long through-ball and got around Kennedy inside the box to place his shot into the left side netting.

The Red-and-White tried to mount a comeback and pulled one back in the 81st minute when Torres found the back of the net for his 10th career goal in just 18 matches. The 21-year-old striker was assisted by a pair of subs that were brought on in the second half to attempt to cut into the lead. Adolfo "Bofo" Bautista worked the ball inside the arc and kicked it out to Kris Tyrpak on his left, who then quickly crossed it near the goal's doorstep for the striker to tap it in and cut the deficit to 2-1.

The comeback, however, would be halted five minutes later when the home side pushed their lead back to two on Michel's strike. The midfielder's free kick from about 25 yards out deflected off the Goats' defensive wall and had enough momentum behind it to find the inside of the right post to lead the Texas side to the 3-1 result and hand Chivas their first loss of the 2014 campaign - including preseason competition.

Chivas USA will return home for a brief time before heading back on the road to face the New York Red Bulls in the sides' first and only meeting of the 2014 season. The match is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, and can be heard on ESPN Deportes Radio KWKW 1330 AM starting at noon (PT). For more information log on to cdchivasusa.com and follow the club on Twitter and Facebook.



Major League Soccer Stories from March 23, 2014


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