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Galindo, Chivas USA keeps Toronto FC reeling

Aug 18, 2007 - 11:56 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Still no sign of the Toronto FC offense.

Maykel Galindo and Francisco Mendoza each scored a goal as Chivas USA shut out Toronto FC, 2-0, for the second time in as many matches this season.

Toronto FC is winless in its last seven games (0-4-3) and hasn't scored a goal since July 7, a span of 552 minutes over six games. The team is now precariously close to breaking the MLS record of 557 minutes without a tally, a mark set by Real Salt Lake in 2005.

"We've had trouble scoring. That's something we'll address Monday. There's no point now," Toronto coach Mo Johnston said. "It's not like we didn't create any chances, we created tons of chances, we just didn't finish. As far as the record, records don't matter too much to me."

Galindo's team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 57th minute was all Chivas would need as netminder Brad Guzan stopped Toronto's three shots on goal.

"I'm very happy because of the win," Galindo said through a translator. "I don't set goals for myself in terms of goals scored, but it was nice to get my team-leading eighth goal. I am happy with the way things are going. I want my fans to not see me as the Cuban guy who deserted, but rather as the player who is doing well in the MLS."

Jesse Marsch earned his fourth assist of the season on the deciding goal with a strong pass from Chivas' half of the field.

Galindo took the pass and raced down the left side before rifling a left-footed shot over the head of netminder Kenny Stamatopoulos.

"I thought the first goal was a bit of a sucker punch. I felt that it was offside," Johnston said.

The lead nearly doubled in the 61st minute as Ante Razov's penalty kick got through a crowd in front of the net, but the ball bounced off the left post.

Chivas would eventually record its second goal in the 89th minute.

Mendoza's first tally of the season, assisted by Ramon Nunez and Paulo Nagamura, salted the game for Chivas, which also won 2-0 when these teams met for the first time in April's season opener.

Playing for the first time since July 29, Chivas (9-6-3) has 30 points and a firm grip on third place in the Western Conference standings, six points ahead of Colorado.

"A big win for the team. Haven't played in maybe three weeks," Chivas midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. "Last two games were on the road and we took three points on against New York and then take three points in here, just trying to prove a lot of doubters that we belong (in the playoffs) this year."

Toronto (5-11-5) put together its best scoring opportunities between the 75th and 76th minutes. Jim Brennan had a chance to end the scoring drought, but his penalty kick from in front was deflected on its way to net and went wide.

Moments later, Marvell Wynne charged at a loose ball in the penalty area, but Guzman closed off the angle and made a save from point-blank range.

"It's not nice losing. It's not nice not scoring goals," Toronto midfielder Carl Robinson said. "We've had this situation at the start of the season and when we did score it was a relief. Then the goals started to flow."

This was a reunion of sorts for Chivas coach Preki and Johnston. Both broke into the league in the inaugural season of 1996 as teammates with the Kansas City Wizards.