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Toronto FC-Chivas USA Preview

Aug 21, 2009 - 5:58 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Toronto FC (8-7-6) at Chivas USA (9-7-3), 10:30 p.m. EDT

After a rocky stretch on the road, Chivas USA looks forward to its first match at the Home Depot Center in six weeks.

Facing a Toronto FC team that has won once on the road since its season opener could make Saturday night's contest all the more enjoyable for the host club.

Chivas (9-7-3) snapped a five-game losing streak with Saturday's 2-0 victory over New York. Maykel Galindo's goal in the 15th minute was the club's first since Eduardo Lillingston found the back of the net in a 2-1 loss at Columbus on June 14.

"I don't even remember the last time we scored a goal," coach Preki told the team's official Web site.

Lillingston added his team-high seventh goal of the season Saturday in stoppage time as Chivas ended its 1-2-0 road stretch. The victory was the team's first since a 1-0 win over Seattle on June 6.

"(Saturday) felt like how we played in the beginning of the year - working hard and fighting for every ball," captain Jesse Marsch said. "Our team is fit and there is a sense of rejuvenation this week."

The return of goalie Zach Thornton is a big reason for the club's improved outlook at it prepares for its first home match since a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles on July 11.

After injuring his right quad in the All-Star game, Thornton returned Saturday and made four saves for his eighth shutout of the season and 66th of his career. He tied San Jose's Joe Cannon for second all-time in that category.

"I really don't pay attention to statistics," Thornton said. "I don't even know where I stand when it comes to things like that."

Thornton, with a league-best 0.83 goals-against average, will face a Toronto FC team that is 1-4-3 in its last eight on the road.

Toronto (8-7-6) opens a stretch of three straight road games after Saturday's 2-0 victory over D.C. United. Dwayne De Rosario scored for the fourth consecutive match and O'Brian White recorded his first MLS goal as Toronto snapped a three-match winless streak.

Toronto moved past D.C. United into third place in the Eastern Conference.

"We said all week, we've got 10 games left and today we wanted to win to set us up and get us ready for the final push to the playoffs," captain Jim Brennan told the team's official Web site. "It was very hot out on the pitch and it got a bit scrappy at times, but the guys dug deep, had a couple of chances, finished them and we walked away with three points."

Brennan will serve a one-game suspension Saturday due to yellow-card accumulation, but Toronto defender Marvell Wynne will be available after missing Saturday's match with a strained hamstring.

Forward Jes??s Padilla could play Saturday for Chivas USA after being acquired from Chivas de Guadalajara on Monday.

Toronto's 1-0 win over visiting Chivas on April 22 was the club's first-ever victory in this series following four defeats.