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Chivas looks to rebound against FC Dallas

Apr 24, 2009 - 9:31 PM By Kate Hedlin Stats Writer

Dallas (1-3-1) at Chivas USA (4-1-1), 10:30 p.m. EDT

CARSON, California (AP) -- CD Chivas USA has needed to have one of the league's best defenses to help make up for the absences of several key players on offense. Playing short-handed may be catching up with the team, however.

Coming off its first loss of the season, Chivas looks to bounce back Saturday night when it hosts FC Dallas.

Chivas (4-1-1) leads MLS with 13 points, thanks largely to one of the league's staunchest defenses. It's given up three goals this season - tied for the fewest allowed - and has especially needed that defensive effort due to struggles on offense.

Chivas was shut out for the second time in three games Wednesday, losing 1-0 to Toronto FC. Chivas, missing nine regular players including midfielder Sacha Victorine (knee surgery) and forwards Justin Braun (knee sprain) and Maykel Galindo (hernia surgery), had only one shot on goal Wednesday and gave up the game-winner in the 36th minute.

"Toronto wanted it a little bit more than us and they got the result," Chivas coach Preki said. "They created a couple of more opportunities than we did and out of one of those they scored a goal and that was enough."

This is the second meeting between these two clubs this season. Chivas won 2-0 on March 29 behind Zach Thornton's six saves and goals by forward Eduardo Lillingston and Bojan Stepanovic, who is expected to play Saturday despite leaving last week's game with an injury.

Chivas' offense will try to break out against Dallas (1-3-1), which has allowed a league-high 10 goals.

"It's going to be a very tough game," Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty told the team's official Web site. "They're going to want to stay on a roll and we're going to want to get a little streak going here ourselves, so it's a very important game for us."

Dallas is coming off its first league win of the season after beating Toronto 3-2 on Sunday. It also played in a U.S. Open Cup match against D.C. United on Wednesday and lost 2-0.

Kenny Cooper scored twice in the win over Toronto, including the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in the 84th minute. He has four of the team's six goals this season, tying him for the league lead with Colorado's Conor Casey and Chicago's Brian McBride. Dallas had been held to three goals in its previous four games.

"I think Kenny is the face of this franchise," coach Schellas Hyndman said. "He's an important player to this team."

Dallas has played three of its first five games at home but will go on the road for the next three, where it is 0-1-1 this season.

Dallas is 3-2-1 all-time at Chivas.