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Chivas USA-Crew Preview

May 14, 2010 - 5:04 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Chivas USA (3-4-1) at Columbus (3-0-2), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Robbie Rogers finally found the back of the net in the Columbus Crew's last game. If all goes well for the 23-year-old midfielder, that could be one of his last goals for the two-time reigning Supporters' Shield winners for several weeks.

Making their final MLS appearances before heading to World Cup training camp, Rogers and defender Chad Marshall look to keep the Crew unbeaten Saturday when they host Chivas and fellow U.S. national team call-ups Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein.

Since totaling five goals in his first seven games of 2008, when he was named to the MLS Best XI, Rogers has scored just four times in 52 matches. No wonder he took off his jersey and celebrated when he knocked in the game-winner in the first minute of second-half stoppage time in Saturday's 3-2 victory over visiting New England.

"It's my first goal of the season five games in, but most importantly, it was three points at home," Rogers told the Crew's official website after scoring his first goal since Aug. 8 at San Jose. "A draw tonight would have felt like a loss for sure, so I am really stoked that we got three points."

Rogers will try to help the Crew (3-0-2) improve to 4-0-0 at home before leaving with Marshall and Chivas' co-captains for the start of the World Cup camp that opens Monday in Princeton, N.J. All four were named to the 30-man preliminary U.S. roster by coach Bob Bradley on Tuesday.

The roster will be cut to 23 players by June 1. Since the World Cup doesn't end until July 11, it's possible this will be the last MLS match for these players for two months.

"It's still important that I work hard with my team here in Columbus and get better," Rogers said. "I have a lot to prove."

So does Chivas (3-4-1), which is making a habit of trailing early in matches. After only one opponent scored in the opening 20 minutes against it last season, Chivas USA has already given up goals in the first 20 minutes three times. Chivas allowed two in the opening eight minutes Saturday and fell 2-0 at Houston for its fourth shutout loss this season.

"It's a tough hole to get ourselves into," Kljestan told Chivas' website after setting a club record with his 112th appearance. "Before the game even starts, we're down a goal. It was very difficult to come back. After that, they dropped 10 guys behind the ball and did a good job shutting us down."

Klejstan and Bornstein, one of nine defenders selected Tuesday, will try to help Chivas improve its 1-2-2 record at Crew Stadium. In the teams' last meeting in Columbus, the Crew won 2-1 on June 14 on two second-half goals by 2008 league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

Chivas USA leads the all-time series 5-3-2.