Suarez buries late PK for Chivas in tie

Club pushes Western Conference lead to three points over Houston

Claudio Suarez capped off Chivas USA's late comeback by driving home a penalty kick. (WireImage.com)

Blanco lured thousands of fans in his first appearance at Home Depot Center as a member of the Fire. The match was Chivas USA's first home sellout of a game not involving the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Ante Razov had Chivas USA's first scoring opportunity. Just three minutes in, Sacha Kljestan beat Chicago's offside trap and fed a through ball to Razov, who walked into the penalty area alone. Chicago goalkeeper Matt Pickens was well positioned and turned Razov away from the middle of the box.

A minute later, Kljestan fouled Blanco from behind on the left flank, a move that drew a few stern words from referee Tim Weyland. Blanco placed the ensuing set piece to the far post and Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan easily collected the ball.

Kljestan found Galindo near the top of the penalty area in the 21st minute. Galindo ran into the penalty area, fooled Pickens and slotted the ball into the back of the net. However, the goal was waved off because of an offside call, though television replays appeared to show Galindo in an onside position.

Nagamura fouled Blanco 30 yards away in the 23rd minute, a call that apparently enraged Jesse Marsch. The Chivas USA midfielder was booked for dissent after arguing the call with Weyland. The sellout crowd buzzed with anticipation as Blanco took a 10-yard running start on a free kick and screamed in joy when he buried the shot into the back of the net. Blanco's shot sailed just over the wall and was just out of Guzan's reach.

Blanco scored a similar goal in his final game with Club America, a long-range bomb against Pachuca in the Clausura 2007 final.

Chicago captain Chris Armas was booked in the 28th minute when he leveled Galindo near the center circle. Weyland had given both sides several warnings for previous physical challenges and within five minutes gave out his first two yellow cards. Nagamura was booked in the 32nd minute when he upended Armas on a challenge in the middle of the field.

Shavar Thomas nearly gave away a Chicago set piece in the 34th minute when he slid and knocked the ball away from Blanco on a Fire counterattack. From his back, Blanco slammed his hands on the turf when he saw Weyland motion for him to get up. Chivas USA raced into Chicago's third and Wilman Conde knocked Galindo down a few yards outside the area. The foul cost him a yellow card -- the fourth of the match -- and set up a Razov free kick. However, Razov's attempt went nowhere, hitting Kljestan and trickling harmlessly over the end line.

Galindo picked up a yellow card in the 54th minute after a foul on Blanco. The club's leading goal scorer, Galindo will miss Chivas USA's Oct. 6 match at Real Salt Lake on yellow-card accumulation.

Chivas USA coach Preki made his first substitution of the match in the 68th minute when he replaced Nagamura with Laurent Merlin. With Chicago ahead and seemingly content with defending, the defensive midfielder seemed a logical choice to take out.

Mendoza nearly equalized in the 72nd minute when Kljestan picked Mendoza out on the far post with a cross from the right side of the area. Mendoza's header, though, hit the crossbar and bounced away from the goal.

Galindo drew a penalty kick in the 81st minute Chicago's Brown fouled him from behind in the penalty area. Suarez took the spot kick and buried it into the upper corner of the net as Chivas came back to level terms.

Though not as loud as Blanco's cheers, the crowd loudly voiced their approval at the goal, which kept Chivas USA's unbeaten home mark intact.

Guzan kept Chicago from scoring in the 89th minute. Second-half substitute Alex Zotinca was disposessed by Chicago's Diego Gutierrez. From 25 yards out, Gutierrez ripped a shot but Guzan dived and pushed the ball over the crossbar.

After the shot, Gutierrez fell to the ground with an apparent injury and left the field. He was replaced immediately by Bakary Soumare.

In stoppage time, Blanco nearly drew a penalty kick. He carried the ball inside the penalty area and fell when Zotinca made contact but a corner kick was given despite strong protest from Chicago's sideline. Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio was sent off after the protests.

The game's end was every bit as tenacious as the game itself.

Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

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