Chivas pleased with effort in regular season finale
Red-and-White able to climb back into match despite three-goal deficit
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The result sees Chivas USA slip to a 1-6-5 lifetime record against Houston, and drops the team to fourth place in the Western Conference. They will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy in a first-ever SuperClásico playoff series, beginning next Sunday.
Chivas USA controlled the tempo for most of Sunday's match, enjoying long spells of possession and outshooting Houston 12-7. With a goal called back due to offside and two fouls that might have deserved penalty kicks, the Red-and-White were inches away from being on the other side of the scoreline.
"There was only one team on the field who played soccer and one team on the field that created chances," said Chivas USA head coach Preki. "And that team lost. What are you going to say? Sometimes the game can be cruel. We're not putting our heads down. We know in that lockeroom that we played a pretty solid game."
Chivas USA started the game on a tear, testing Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad twice within the first seven minutes.
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"I really thought our group came out of the locker room pretty well," Preki said. "It's really disappointing that we didn't score at least one goal. For whatever reason, it wasn't our day. But you can see the group never quit."
After conceding three goals in the span of 26 minutes, Chivas USA mounted an attack in the second half that nearly saw them earn a draw.
"The group pushed forward, and really wanted to get a result," said Preki. "In the second half, our guys are fit and they believe. The way we play, the way we move the ball on the ground sometimes teams get tired playing against us."
Chivas USA's first goal came in the 60th minute from rookie Michael Lahoud. The tally was Lahoud's first in MLS.
"It's conflicting emotions," said Lahoud of the goal. "I'm happy to score a goal and a goal that was important to help get the team back in the game, but I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get the result."
The Red-and-White's second goal came on an 88th-minute penalty kick that was awarded after Jorge Flores was taken down in the box. The young Flores, who came on in the 65th minute, was playing in just his seventh game of the season.
"We've always said that when it's your turn, you have to give everything you can," said Flores. "Even when you aren't playing in every game, you have to be ready to contribute whenever you can."
Flores was one of three Chivas USA substitutes who had had a big impact in the game's second half. Eduardo Lillingston and Marcelo Saragosa also came on, helping the Red-and-White to claw back into the match.
"It's a little hard to enter a game when you're behind," said Flores. "But whole group kept pushing and never quit. We lost, but we played well and created good chances for ourselves that we can hopefully take advantage of next time."
Chivas USA will now prepare for the first of two playoff matches against their in-stadium rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"It's great for the league," said Preki of the matchup. "Hopefully we'll see a full stadium and a good atmosphere and good soccer at the end of the day. I think everybody should be excited."
Chivas USA struggled against Los Angeles this year, failing to win in three attempts, but the team remains excited for the playoffs and a chance for some revenge.
"The Galaxy have gotten the better of us this year," said Preki. "We keep going and keep fighting and we keep playing the way we want to play. That's the most important thing. We've tried to play the right way [this season] and hopefully they'll get rewarded for that."
Jeffrey King is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
