Oct 2, 2009 - 3:49 PM
0 shoutsBy ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer
Chivas USA (11-9-5) at D.C. (8-7-12), 7:30 p.m. EDT
Chivas USA is desperately trying to hold on to a wild-card spot. It certainly didn't handle having a lead very well against D.C. United in May.
Chivas, trying to at least keep pace in the race for the final postseason berth, looks to avenge a poor second-half showing against United and hand them their third straight home defeat Saturday night.
With the regular season winding down, Chivas (11-9-5) and D.C. (8-7-12) will likely need strong finishes to make the playoffs.
A 1-all draw with New York last Saturday night left Chivas in a tie for fourth in the Western Conference and sixth overall with 38 points. The top two teams from each conference make the postseason, and the clubs with the four next highest point totals receive wild-card berths.
"First thing is to make the playoffs, that's the main objective," Chivas coach Preki said. "Obviously if we can climb the ladder we would all love that. ... For now, we have to regroup and refocus and go to D.C., where it's going to be really, a tough game."
D.C., though, has lost two straight at home, falling 2-1 to last-place San Jose on Sunday to drop out of the league's top eight. With three games remaining, United trail New England by one point for the final playoff spot.
"We put ourselves in a bad spot by slipping two home games," coach Tom Soehn told United's official Web site. "We let ourselves down and we have to find a way out of it."
In their last matchup with Chivas, United came back with an outstanding effort after falling behind. They scored two goals in the last 13 minutes to escape with a 2-all tie on the road May 16.
Goalkeeper Louis Crayton started that game for D.C., but his contract expired June 30 and he was not re-signed. Josh Wicks, who replaced Crayton as the starter, will be out four to six weeks with a dislocated shoulder and a sprained knee suffered against the Earthquakes.
That leaves D.C. with one active goalkeeper, Milos Kocic. The team said it will call up an MLS pool goalkeeper prior to Saturday's match.
D.C. has allowed two goals in each of its last two games at RFK Stadium after going unbeaten in its first 11 there (6-0-5).
Chivas has been held to one goal or none in four of its last five games, going 1-2-2. Sacha Kljestan missed a penalty kick in second-half injury time against the Red Bulls after finding the back of the net in the 64th minute.
Kljestan is tied with Paulo Nagamura for second on the team with four goals. Eduardo Lillingston tops Chivas with seven goals but hasn't scored since a 2-0 win over New York on Aug. 15.
From the Bleachers
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CHIVAS USA: 2
D.C. UNITED: 0
Final
Oct 3 9:28 PM -
CHIVAS USA: 2
D.C. UNITED: 0
End of Regulation
Oct 3 9:24 PM -
MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 2
DC UNITED 0
CHIVAS GOAL: Jesus Padilla in the 53rd minute
Oct 3 8:48 PM -
CHIVAS USA: 1
D.C. UNITED: 0
Halftime
Oct 3 8:23 PM -
MLS UPDATE
CHIVAS 1
DC UNITED 0
CHIVAS GOAL: Maicon Santos in the 32nd minute
Oct 3 8:10 PM
