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Nagamura scores game-winning goal for Chivas USA

Jun 10, 2007 - 4:03 AM BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois (Ticker) -- Paulo Nagamura made sure his first goal was worth the wait.

Nagamura scored his first career goal as Chivas USA held on for a 1-0 triumph over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old joined Chivas via trade from Toronto FC on May 4 after the club dealt a 2008 first-round SuperDraft selection for the Brazilian midfielder.

"Even if I didn't score I still feel comfortable with this team," Nagamura said. "The guys were great welcoming me here and I feel great here."

"(Nagamura) is really settling in for us," Chivas coach Preki said. "He is a great player who is giving everything for the team. He got rewarded with a goal."

Chivas USA (4-3-2) has now won two straight games for the first time following a four-game slide. They posted an impressive 2-0 triumph against FC Dallas on May 26 at home.

In the 79th minute, Nagamura scored the game-winning goal with a blast to the lower-right side of the net by Chicago goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Ante Razov started the play with a pass to Maykel Galindo, who bounced it off a defender.

"I saw the ball get loose and the defender slip (Dasan Robinson), so I thought I could make my run to the outside," Nagamura said. "After I got the ball it was one touch and put it in the net."

"The ball just hit off somebody and got outside where they got to it. I was going to rush out but realized I could not get to it," Pickens said. "So I stayed back and then tried to cut down (Nagamura's) angle to shoot. Obviously I didn't cut down enough of it."

The tally was a long time coming for Nagamura, who had played in 63 regular-season games - logging over 5,000 minutes and registering seven assists - before finally finding the back net.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan picked up his fourth shutout of the season for Chivas USA, which had 11 total shots, including two on goal, and 11 corner kicks.

"This is a big win for us on the road and I feel we dominated the game," Guzan said. "It is nice to get rewarded with three points. The guys in front of me did a great job, they just never let down. Paulo scored a great goal."

Guzan, who has 10 career shutouts, was taken first overall in the 2005 SuperDraft, making him the highest selected netminder in league history.

"You can't have any lapses and you have to stay in tune for 90 minutes," Guzan said. "Whether the ball is 10 yards or 110 yards in front of you. The game can change on one shot."

The Fire (4-5-2) was hoping to begin a winning streak of their own after ending a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew here.

"We were in the game until the last 10 minutes, unfortunately things just aren't happening for us right now," Chicago defender C.J. Brown said.

Chicago, which swept the season series in 2005, has dropped three consecutive matchups against Chivas USA.