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Chivas downs Revolution 2-0

Sep 13, 2009 - 10:29 PM By JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO STATS MLS Correspondent

CARSON, Calif. (STATS) - After losing five of its past seven games, Chivas USA senses the urgency for a playoff push.

Maicon Santos and Sacha Kljestan scored goals, and goalkeeper Zach Thornton finished with his ninth shutout to give Chivas USA a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday.

Chivas USA (11-9-3), which broke a two-game losing streak, moved into a tie with Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference and a three-way tie with D.C. United for sixth in the overall standings.

The top two teams in each conference and the clubs with the next four highest point totals qualify for the playoffs.

"Every game now is like a final for us," Santos said. "You can't lose. You can't play bad. You must keep playing hard every game."

The Brazilian forward Santos, Mexican forward Jesus Padilla and Colombian defender Yamith Cuesta - all starters in this match - could play major roles after being acquired on loans in the past four weeks.

"I think they've helped us dramatically," said Chivas USA forward Justin Braun, who made his first appearance since June 6 after suffering a concussion.

"They're all great players and they bring a very different style to this team," Braun said. "They bring that Latin style, the technical ability they all possess."

The Revolution (9-8-6) lost their second consecutive game after winning three in a row. They are fifth in the East and 11th overall, three points out of the last playoff spot.

"We had no energy," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "Definitely in the first half, we were very poor on the ball.

"When you're coughing the ball up and giving it away, you always wind up under pressure. We did it too often and too easily."

Santos, who signed with Chivas USA on Aug. 21, scored his first MLS goal in the 10th minute. Braun beat defender Jay Heaps along the right flank and crossed the ball to an unmarked Santos, who converted from 7 yards.

"We came out of the locker room pretty good," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "After we scored, we had five or six good looks in the next 10 to 15 minutes.

"It's disappointing that we didn't score another goal at that point. Then we'd have a little more breathing room. When you're winning 1-0, you're always afraid that something is going to go wrong somewhere."

Kljestan scored on a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time. Chivas USA gained the penalty after Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis grabbed Eduardo Lillingston's right leg in the penalty area on a breakaway, causing Lillingston to fall.

Both teams played with 10 men after the Revolution's Edgaras Jankauskas and Chivas USA's Carey Talley were ejected in the 69th minute.

New England finished with a franchise-low two shots, and Thornton did not need to make a save.

The Revolution played without all-star midfielder Shalrie Joseph, who was suspended after receiving a red card Sept. 5 against Kansas City.