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Chivas USA 1, Sounders 0

Jun 7, 2009 - 6:11 AM By JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO STATS MLS Correspondent

CARSON, Calif. (STATS) - Neither suspensions nor absences for World Cup qualifying could prevent Chivas USA from maintaining Major League Soccer's winningest record.

Eduardo Lillingston scored in the 38th minute to give Chivas USA a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night.

Zach Thornton made three saves to earn his league-leading seventh shutout for Chivas USA (8-2-3), which snapped a three-game winless streak.

Chivas played without Jonathan Bornstein, Sacha Kljestan and Jesse Marsch. Bornstein and Kljestan joined the United States' roster for a World Cup qualifier against Honduras. Marsch was suspended after getting a red card against Chicago on May 28.

As a result, rookie Michael Lahoud received his first professional start. Jorge Flores made his first start of the year at left back and Justin Braun moved to the right flank.

"Our guys from the get-go were very resilient," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "You make sure that you've got a team that's going to fight for each other, that has a good mentality, that's not going to give up easy anything."

Chivas defender Carey Talley said that his team won despite not playing its usual possession-oriented style.

"We didn't have the ball a whole lot," Talley said. "I don't think we kept the ball on the ground at all tonight, and that took us out of our element."

Lillingston scored after teammate Paulo Nagamura took a 7-yard shot that goalkeeper Kasey Keller blocked while sliding toward the left post. An unmarked Lillingston tapped the ball into the open net from four yards for his fifth goal.

"The first few games were a little rough for Eduardo," Talley said of Lillingston, a 12-year veteran of Mexico's first division. "This league is a lot more physical. But he has found ways to keep the ball, get it in good spots and pick up some goals."

The Sounders (4-3-5) had their winless streak extended to six games after playing to five consecutive draws.

"I thought we were the better team tonight," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. "We had control of the game. I thought we were dominant for 80 of the 90 minutes."

Freddie Ljungberg had the best chance to tie the score but Thornton dived to his left to deflect Ljungberg's 16-yard line drive with his let hand in the 56th minute.

The Sounders played with 10 men after Nate Jaqua received a red card in the 88th minute.

Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall missed his first game after playing every minute in league play. Marshall was suspended for receiving a red card May 30 against Columbus. The Sounders also were without midfielder Peter Vagenas, who was scratched from the lineup after experiencing right ankle pain in warm-ups. Stephen King started in Vagenas' place.

Chivas defender Claudio Suarez, a veteran of three World Cups for Mexico, made his first appearance of the season when he replaced Shavar Thomas in the 70th minute.