Chivas' offense too much for RSL
Club defends turf in home opener at The Home Depot Center
Beating RSL is nothing new for Chivas USA, as the hosts improved to 6-0-1 all-time against their fellow 2005 expansion side at The Home Depot Center.
Alecko Eskandarian also scored for Chivas USA, as the former MLS Cup Most Valuable Player bagged a goal three minutes into stoppage time.
Chivas USA, though, had to make do without injured starters Ante Razov (strained left calf) and Lawson Vaughn (left hamstring) as well as defender Claudio Suarez, who arrived in Los Angeles on Friday after attending his father's funeral earlier in the week.
Harris and Galindo, thus, started their first game together while Chris Pozniak made his Red-and-White debut in Vaughn's usual place on the right side of the defense. Jim Curtin and Shavar Thomas, meanwhile, started in central defense for the second consecutive match.
Chivas USA took control of the match from the start. The hosts controlled possession and connected well on passes from the early going despite the absent starters.
Francisco Mendoza hit the turf in the eighth minute after RSL midfielder Dema Kovalenko flattened him from behind. For the challenge, Kovalenko earned a yellow card. On the ensuing free kick, Jesse Marsch swung in a cross to Jim Curtin, who headed the ball on goal but right to RSL 'keeper Nick Rimando.
Mendoza came close to scoring on the quarter hour. Maykel Galindo sent a cross in from the right flank after getting behind the RSL backline. Galindo sent a ball across the area to Mendoza but the fourth-year player fanned on the ball and it rolled harmlessly past the goal as Mendoza failed to get a foot on the ball.
Kljestan had a look from the top of the penalty area in the 22nd minute but sent his shot well over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Galindo had some space down the center of the field. He tried to get past RSL defender Nat Borchers but instead tested his luck from 15 yards out. Rimando, however, did well to scoop up Galindo's shot.
It was Kljestan who finally broke through for the Red-and-White. On a counterattack, Mendoza carried the ball down the left sideline and fed Galindo near the midfield stripe. Galindo raced down the middle of the field and slipped a ball to the right side of the penalty area. Kljestan ran onto it and slotted the ball past Rimando and into the back of the net.
For Kljestan it was second goal in as many home openers. Last year, Kljestan bagged his first career goal in a 2-0 season-opening win against Toronto FC.
Minutes later, RSL nearly equalized. Robbie Findley ran down the right side of the ball and sent a well-placed ball to the far post. Kenny Deuchar had Guzan beaten but with a gaping goal in front of him launched the ball over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
Atiba Harris picked up a yellow card in the 45th minute after he clipped Rimando inside the area. Rimando dove to collect a ball and Harris stabbed at it. Instead of hitting the ball, though, Harris connected with his former teammate.
Barely one minute into the second half, Harris ripped a shot on goal from the right side of the area but Rimando made the save.
Chivas USA doubled the lead in the 55th minute as Harris scored his first goal with the Red-and-White. Mendoza carried the ball into the penalty area and found Kljestan on the right side of the penalty area. Kljestan settled the ball and centered it to Harris, who knocked the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Harris enacted a bit of revenge on his former side. Harris scored four times for RSL in 2006 but had no goals in 21 games a year ago.
RSL pulled a goal back in the 57th minute, however, as Deuchar scored his first career MLS goal. Deuchar rose above the Chivas USA defense on a set piece sent in by Javier Morales and slammed a header into the back of the net.
Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a spectacular save in the 62nd minute. RSL forward Yura Movsisyan headed a bouncing ball on goal. Guzan, who had come off his line, dived backward and parried the ball away.
After a few late counters, Eskandarian finally broke through. Eskandarian beat Rimando to a ball some 30 yards out and easily scored his first goal in a Chivas USA uniform, rounding the 'keeper and dribbling almost completely into the empty net before gleefully hammering the ball into the goal.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
