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Chivas USA and Galaxy Follow Familiar Paths
Chivas USA 'keeper Zach Thorton celebrates the team's first goal against Seattle Sounders FC last night at the Home Depot Center. Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
Newcomer Chukwudi Chijindu scored his first MLS career goal last night to help Chivas USA secure a 2 - 0 victory over the visiting Seattle Sounders FC at the Home Depot Center.
Chijindu's goal came in the 84th minute on a pass from midfielder Bojan Stepanovic who played his first full game for the red-and-whites, as head coach Preki Radosavljevic was forced to make adjustments to the starting line up due to the team's mounting injuries and suspension to midfielder Paulo Nagamura.
Despite the score, the victory did not come easy for the red-and-whites. The L.A. side had to survive a couple of early scares from the Sounders offense. Sounders forward Freddy Montero split the Chivas USA defense just outside the penalty box at the 10th minute, forcing Chivas USA 'keeper to come out and challenge the partial break away. Montero chipped the ball over Thorton with such calm and confidence, the goal almost seemed certain. Fortunately for Chivas USA, the ball somehow ended up going wide of the net.
Montero's opportunity was partly the result of Chivas USA's lack of control in the midfield. The midfield struggled to get into sync with each other and their miscues resulted in a number of clumsy turnovers. Seattle took advantage of the opportunities, almost doubling the number of shots on goal that the red-and-whites had on the night. Midfielder Osvaldo Alonso figured heavily for the visitors, regularly disrupting the red-and-white offense and initiating it for his side.
The first goal would come when Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein found himself deep in the Seattle box after a great combination with midfielder Sacha Kljestan just outside the box. Bornstein sent a cross to the front of the goal, but before the ball could get there, Seattle midfielder James Riley would intervene and inadvertently deflect the ball into his own goal to open the scoring.
Minutes later, Thorton's heroics would again be called upon to preserve the lead by means of a great save on a Seattle header at very close range. The 1 - 0 score held until Chijindu added to the count for the final score of 2 - 0.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Quakes were already leading the Galaxy by a score of 1 - 0 a mere five minutes into their match being played simultaneously to the Chivas USA match, but in Oakland. Although they once again fell behind early, the silver lining for the blue-and-gold is the once again impressive showing by 'keeper Donovan Ricketts.
Ricketts was called upon on several occasions and answered the call without hesitation. His heroics prevented the Quakes from adding to the lead even though they created some quality chances for themselves. Forward Bryan Jordan would take advantage of the opportunity created by Ricketts and at the 76th minute, Jordan would score his first goal of the season, bringing the teams level. The game would end with the score at 1 - 1, leaving the Galaxy to continue to search for their first victory on the season.