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Earthquakes-Chivas USA Preview

Oct 16, 2009 - 6:58 PM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Jose (7-13-8) at Chivas USA (13-9-5), 10:30 p.m. EDT

CD Chivas USA has already clinched a playoff spot, but it still has much to play for in the final week of the season.

Coming off its second straight shutout victory, Chivas tries to run its unbeaten streak to six matches as it hosts the lowly San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.

Chivas (13-9-5) clinched a fourth straight playoff berth with a 2-0 win over Kansas City last Saturday and can still claim the top spot in the Western Conference.

Thanks to a 3-0-2 mark since the beginning of September, Chivas (44 points) is in a three-way tie with Los Angeles and Houston for first place in the West. Chivas, though, has a game in hand on both as it plays twice next week to conclude the regular season.. The Dynamo and Galaxy face each other Sunday.

"The most important one is this weekend coming up against San Jose," forward Sacha Kljestan told MLS' official Web site. "To move to 47 points, and I think that Galaxy and Houston play each other, pending that result, maybe we're in first by ourselves and we kind of put a little separation going into the final hard week with two games in three days to finish the season."

Looking at the bigger picture, Chivas remains in the mix with Columbus to win the Supporters' Shield for the team with the highest point total in MLS. The Crew, who have 49 points, can clinch it with a win over D.C. United on Saturday and a Chivas loss to San Jose.

"It's big - it shows that over a season you're the best team in the league," Kljestan said. "Columbus may have it wrapped up pretty soon depending on how they do, but I think if we can finish the season strong, we might have a good chance."

Team MVP last year, Kljestan has scored all five of his goals in the last eight matches. The All-Star midfielder and Justin Braun each scored against Kansas City last weekend.

Goalkeeper Zach Thornton continued his stellar season by recording his league-leading 12th shutout.

Chivas has grown accustomed to shutting out San Jose of late. Since the Earthquakes returned to MLS last season, Chivas has outscored San Jose 3-0 while going 3-0-1.

Braun has scored in each of Chivas' last two matches against the Earthquakes, including a 1-0 victory at San Jose on May 2.

Chivas has a good chance to extend that unbeaten streak against the Earthquakes (7-13-8), who are last in the West and a conference-worst 1-8-4 on the road.

The Earthquakes, however, won't roll over down the stretch. Despite missing three straight games with a knee sprain, Cornell Glen scored in injury time to help San Jose tie Toronto FC 1-all last Saturday.

"We're not going to give up, we're not in the playoff race anymore but this group of guys are still going to work hard for the result," goalkeeper Joe Cannon said of the Earthquakes, who are 2-1-3 since September.

Despite's Glen effort last weekend, the forward is expected to miss this contest with the knee injury.