Ten-Man Chivas USA Secure 1-1 Tie against Vancouver Whitecaps FC

March 17, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, March 16, 2014) - Chivas USA (1-0-1) played Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1-0-1) to a 1-1 tie Sunday afternoon at the StubHub Center while playing a man down beginning in the 13th minute. The Red-and-White were led by striker Erick "Cubo" Torres' team-leading second goal of the season in the first half to keep the club unbeaten in the 2014 campaign - including preseason competition. Vancouver equalized in the second half on Kekuta Manneh's score for the sides to split the points in Week 2.

The Rojiblancos were left with 10 men early in the first half after first-year midfielder Agustin Pelletieri was sent off with a straight red while going for a 50-50 ball in Vancouver's attacking third.

Despite playing a man down, the Goats outshot the 'Caps 5-0 in the first half and generated the better run of play with an edge in ball possession. Midfielder Leandro Barrera got into dangerous spots near the end line from his left attacking-mid position to get off a pair of crosses that did not manage to find their intended targets.

Torres gave the Rojiblancos the 1-0 advantage in the 45th minute when he positioned himself behind the arc and fired a shot on frame that found the back of the net after it ricocheted off a Vancouver defender. Midfielder Mauro Rosales was credited with his League-high third assist on the play.

Chivas threatened to extend their lead in the 52nd minute when Torres and Barrera led a two-on-two fast break into their final third. As Torres pushed the ball down the middle of the field, he laid it off to Barrera on his left, which left the winger in a one-on-one match-up with Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted, but his attempt was deflected out of bounds by the netminder.

The Red-and-White continued generating scoring opportunities with their attackers looking to go at goal often. In the 72nd minute, the combination of Torres and Rosales nearly linked up again to double Chivas' lead when the duo played a give-and-go sequence down the right flank. The combination sprung Rosales and allowed him to unleash a strike from outside the box that sailed over the crossbar.

The 'Caps evened the match in the 81st minute when Darren Mattocks played a low cross to Manneh - who came on as a sub in the 60th minute - from the left side of the box for the forward to place it inside the left post with his first-time shot.

Locked in a 1-1 tie, the Goats pushed their attack forward in search of the game-winner for the second consecutive week and had a promising look in the 85th minute off a Rosales free kick. The midfielder sent his entry into the box from the left side and found Torres near the short area for a header. However, Ousted secured the shot, turning away the threat and keeping the contest in a stalemate for the remainder of regulation.

Chivas USA will enter Week 3 battling Western Conference foe FC Dallas in their first road match of the 2014 Regular Season at Toyota Stadium. Scheduled to kick off at 5:30 p.m. (PT), the match will mark the first leg in the three-game season series. For more information log on to cdchivasusa.com and follow the club on Twitter and Facebook .



Major League Soccer Stories from March 17, 2014


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