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'Caps hope to cool surging Chivas

Mar 29, 2013 - 7:56 PM Carson, CA (Sports Network) - Chivas USA will attempt to keep its early-season momentum going when the club entertains Vancouver Whitecaps FC at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.

Both teams have gotten off to strong starts so far with Vancouver having its two-game winning streak halted in Houston last weekend, while Chivas has earned seven points from its last three contests after a 3-0 defeat against Columbus to open the season.

First-year head coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola has his Chivas side in its best form in years with the club leading MLS in goals scored following a four-goal outburst against Chicago last weekend.

It marked the first time the Goats scored four goals in a game since May 5, 2010 against New England.

Since that disappointing loss to the Crew to open the campaign, Chivas has outscored its opponents 8-3 over the past three matches, and goalkeeper Dan Kennedy likes the direction his team is heading following a road win against the Fire.

"I said all preseason with this group, everyone is so new so it is important that we get off on the right foot and build team chemistry together on the field, and that's what we are doing," Kennedy said. "I'm proud of all the guys. It's not easy to come in this environment and win."

As good as Chivas has been in recent weeks, the club has had very little success against Vancouver in its brief MLS existence.

The Whitecaps are unbeaten in five games against Chivas in MLS, and the Goats have not scored on Vancouver in 304 minutes.

After winning its first two games of the season, Vancouver sustained a 2-1 defeat at Houston after going up 1-0 on a goal from Darren Mattocks.

And while the Dynamo has proven to be formidable at BBVA Compass Stadium having gone unbeaten in its last 27 regular season games, Vancouver had chances to put an end to that streak.

"There are simple things that could have made life easier for us tonight," Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie said. "We hit both posts off one shot and that was a key moment as well. We probably had four clear chances and tonight we only took one of them. We do need to take our chances, we played well at times and we weathered the storm for most of it. We are looking forward to the next game."

The goal from Mattocks was his first of the season, but he could be poised for more in the coming weeks.

Of his nine career goals in MLS, seven have come away from home, where the 'Caps will playing three of their next four matches.