Newcomers Lift Chivas USA to Victory

Eduardo Lillingston and Bojan Stepanovic scored their first ever MLS goals on Sunday afternoon, helping carry Chivas USA to a 2 - 0 victory over F.C. Dallas in Frisco, Texas.

A series of dramatic saves by Chivas USA 'keeper Zach Thorton kept the score level at the end of a rough first 45 for the red-and-whites and set the stage for Lillingston and Stepanovic.

Halftime adjustments allowed the team to gain greater control of the game, easing the pressure on the red-and-white defense and generating scoring opportunities. Lillingston's goal came at the 56th minute mark when Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayen -- also making his debut with the 1st team -- chested down a ball about 30 yards out from the Dallas goal. Mayen put in a through ball to Lillingston whose low shot from just inside the box beat Dallas 'keeper Ray Burse. Lillingston would then give way for Stepanovic at the 69th minute and the latter would add to the lead a mere 6 minutes later, bringing the score to 2 - 0.

Chivas USA forward Justin Braun nearly expanded the lead to 3 goals when he hit the post at the 83rd minute, but in the end, Lillingston's goal was more than sufficient to keep Chivas USA's record perfect and earn Thorton his first clean sheet of the year.

In other unrelated soccer news, Allison Falk and Camille Abily scored a goal each for the Los Angeles Sol, topping the Washington (D.C.) Freedom Sunday afternoon in the inaugural match of the Women's Professional Soccer league.

For those keeping score at home, L.A. soccer teams were 2 - 0 this weekend and they both won by a score of 2 - 0. Weird coincidence.