Chivas USA beat San Jose 1-0 in preseason
The winning streak of the Chivas USA team is continuing in the 2011 Major League Soccer pre-season. They managed to secure a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in an exhibition game Monday afternoon at the Home Depot Centre in Carson. Alan Gordon delivered
the only goal of the game, as the Chivas forward successfully utilized a cross from Victor Estupinan in the second half. Chivas are yet to concede a single goal in the pre-season. This victory avenged the 3-0 loss against San Jose last season.
Chivas was able to dictate the terms in beginning and dominated the initial period of play. The Earthquakes had chances early as Bobby Convey had a 25-yard shot on the net and a low shot from Paulo Nagamura, both were denied by the Chivas goal-keeper Zach
Thornton.
Entering into the second-half, the Earthquakes brought Anthony Ampaipitakwong into the game. He managed to take some control over the game with his improved ball possession skills. Midway in the second-half, Gordon slotted the ball pass the Earthquake’s
keeper on a cross from Estupinan, giving the team a decisive lead.
Returning from a hamstring injury, mid-fielder Blair Gavin made an early impact as he placed a header on the net which was saved by Jon Busch. Gavin is making his first appearance in the MLS competition of the 2011 pre-season. He tested San Jose’s central
defenders Jason Hernandez and Brandon McDonald with creative foot-work and intense attacking play.
The majority of possession remained with Chivas as they went into the game with an attacking strategy. The Earthquakes were playing with a more defensive strategy as they waited for the counter-attack. The Earthquake’s forward pair of Ryan Johnson and Steve
Lenhart lacked enough support in their attacking moves.
The Chivas team managed to keep their opponents under pressure throughout the game. The Earthquakes failed to effectively move the ball into Chivas’ half of the field to create any fruitful integrated attack. The defeat is a wake-up call for the Earthquakes
to improve their game-play before the regular season begins. The Earthquake’s next opponent for the pre-season is the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Chivas USA are to return to training, on Wednesday and Thursday at the Home Depot Centre before travelling to Phoenix, Arizona for their next pre-season game against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. The team is in good shape with the addition of Blair Gavin
and striker Alan Gordon, scoring two goals in two games. Chivas are hopeful that they can continue to carry their winning momentum forward.
Tags: