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Scoreless draw allows Chivas to capture first conference crown

Oct 21, 2007 - 6:08 AM CARSON, California (Ticker) -- Perhaps it was appropriate that in a game both teams needed to claim a conference title, neither Chivas USA or the Houston Dynamo separate themselves from the other team.

Chivas USA and the Houston Dynamo played to a 0-0 draw, allowing Chivas USA to capture its first Western Conference title on Saturday.

"It's an amazing feeling," Chivas defender Lawson Vaughn said. "This was our goal from the beginning of the season. It was exciting to clinch it in the final game of the season."

The two teams have been battling all season to gain some room from the other at the top of the West.

"It was a typical game against Houston," Chivas coach Preki said. "(It was) a hard fought game."

Despite falling one point short of the new conference champions in the standings, Houston won the season series between the teams, 2-0-1. The Dynamo did not allow a single goal in the three meetings with Chivas.

Finishing second may actually be a good omen for the Dynamo, who are the defending MLS Cup champions after a similar finish last season.

There was only a total of three shots on goal during the match, and neither team seriously threatened to score.

Vaughn was red carded in the 40th minute for a serious foul, leaving Chivas one man short for over half the game.

"We came out in the first half with a game plan and I felt that it was working pretty good we we're staying organized and then the referee makes that call on Lawson," Preki said.

"It was a hard tackle but not a red card from then on we`ve got to adjust and hold on and to there credit they did I`am very proud of the guys but we`ve got four more games to play," he said.