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United-Chivas USA Preview

Aug 28, 2010 - 7:05 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

D.C. (4-14-3) at Chivas USA (5-11-4), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Chivas USA has not converted many chances in the first half of games. A matchup with league-worst D.C. United could help it get off to a better start.

Chivas looks to extend its season-high home unbeaten streak to four when it faces short-handed D.C. on Sunday night.

With just seven first-half goals this season, Chivas USA (5-11-4) has a Western Conference-worst 19 points and is in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2005.

Chivas lost 1-0 at FC Dallas on Aug. 21 to fall to 0-2-1 after a 2-0-2 stretch.

"There have been some games where our play in the first half wasn't so bad," coach Martin Vasquez told Chivas' official website. "I can remember against Columbus (a 3-1 victory July 31) or Seattle (a scoreless draw Aug. 14), we did well in the first half. This last game, we held Dallas to one chance in the first half. We're defending well. We kept their key players to very little opportunity.

"The problem was what we did when we had the ball. At times, we were too imprecise or not smart. That's unacceptable now."

Chivas, 1-0-2 in its last three games at the Home Depot Center, is opening a stretch of three matches in seven days as it takes on a United club that has scored once while going 0-3-2 in its last five on the road.

Chivas USA travels to Tukwila, Wash., for a U.S. Open Cup semifinal matchup against defending champion Seattle on Wednesday and visits Colorado for a league game Saturday.

If Chivas beats the Sounders and United (4-14-3) defeat Columbus in Wednesday's other semifinal at RFK Stadium, the clubs would meet for the title Oct. 6 in the nation's capital.

D.C. is also starting a stretch of three matches in seven days, as it will host the East-leading Crew on Saturday in a league match.

United will be without leading scorer Danny Allsopp against Chivas due to a virus. The forward, who has four of the club's league-low 15 goals, scored twice as D.C. snapped a five-game skid and eight-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over expansion Philadelphia last Sunday.

It was the club's first win under interim coach Ben Olsen, who is 1-2-0 since replacing the fired Curt Onalfo earlier this month.

Defender Marc Burch and striker Pablo Hernandez did not make the trip, but captain Carey Talley, who was waived by Chivas in March, is expected to play after recovering from a groin strain.

The veteran defender scored on a penalty kick in stoppage time as host D.C. snapped a five-match winless streak against Chivas with a 3-2 victory May 29.

Midfielder Andy Najar, who scored his first MLS goal in that match, assisted on both of Allsopp's goals against the Union.

These teams played to a 2-all draw in their last matchup at the Home Depot Center on May 16, 2009.