Sports stats



Chivas USA Rally to Beat Revs 3-2 in Desert Diamond Cup

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


TUCSON, Ariz. - Chivas USA stormed back with three unanswered goals to complete the 3-2 come-from-behind win against the New England Revolution Saturday evening in their second match of the Desert Diamond Cup. After New England went up two-nil in the first half on goals by Lee Nguyen and Teal Bunbury, the Red-and-White answered back to equalize after scores from Erick "Cubo" Torres and Carlos Alvarez, and were then propelled to victory on Mauro Rosales' game-winner. With the result, Chivas USA now face the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday for a chance to clinch a spot in the title match at the Kino Sports Complex.

The Revs took the two-goal advantage in a span of 10 minutes beginning in the 11th minute after a foul gave the Eastern Conference side a free kick from about 20 yards out. Nguyen lined up and sent his shot through the Red-and-White's defensive wall to find the back of the net inside the left post and past Chivas' trialist goalkeeper. New England extended the lead in the 20th minute when Diego Fagundez threaded his pass inside the left side of the box to Bunbury, who then placed a left-footed shot into the lower right corner of the net.

The Rojiblancos pulled one back in the 25th minute on Torres' volley from inside the box. After pushing the ball near the end line on the right side of the box, rookie midfielder Thomas McNamara sent a cross toward the short area that was deflected by the Revs' defense, setting up the second-year striker's liner and first goal of the preseason inside the right post to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Heading into the second half of action, the Goats tallied the equalizer in the 54th minute on a sequence initiated by Rosales on the right wing. The midfielder threaded a pass to Torres inside the right edge of the box, where the forward turned at fired at goal. The shot was denied by the Revs' defense but ended up at the Alvarez's feet near the six-yard box, where he smashed it home with his first-time strike to record his second equalizer of the tournament.

Rosales continued his stellar performance for the Rojiblancos, as he tallied the go-ahead score with a precisely placed free kick from outside the left edge of the box in the 74th minute. After Torres drew a foul deep in the attacking third, Rosales lined up and fired over New England's keeper and into the side netting to give Chivas their first lead of the night, and with it, their first tournament win with the 3-2 result.

With four points apiece, Chivas USA will battle the Rapids in a rematch of their Feb. 16 friendly in the Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge beginning at noon (PT) on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The winner of the contest will go on to meet the Chicago Fire, who sit in first place with six points and have already clinched their spot in the March 1 Final.

Follow Chivas' participation during the Desert Diamond Cup and all preseason news by visiting cdchivasusa.com and on the club's Twitter and Facebook.

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from February 23, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central