Cloud Over Chivas’ Win

Joe Franchino has a tattoo on his left arm that reads “Only God Can Judge Me.”

The New England Revolution defender may need to modify his body art by adding Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber as one of his arbiters.

Franchino, a La Verne Damien High graduate and former Galaxy player, leveled Chivas USA midfielder Hector Cuadros with what appeared to be a double-fisted shot to the back of his head as the two went up for a ball in the 87th minute Friday night and could face a fine and/or suspension.

Cuadros’ collapsing after the game and being taken off the field on a stretcher and by ambulance to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Harbor City while being administered oxygen cast a pall over Chivas USA’s 1-0 victory over the Revolution at the Home Depot Center.

Cuadros was later diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion and was scheduled to undergo a CT scan and, depending on the result, may have had to spend the night in the hospital.

“It was a hard challenge; he just got the worst end of it,” Franchino said, matter-of-factly. “It’s a competitive game. I went in hard and unfortunately, he didn’t get up.

“I hope he’s all right.”

The win for Chivas (3-14-3) was the expansion club’s first over an established MLS franchise as its previous two came against expansion brethren Real Salt Lake.

That it came against New England (10-3-5), the team that entered with the league’s best goal differential (plus-15), was all the sweeter for Chivas, which had the worst (minus-22).

Chivas held a 6-2 edge in shots on goal and both of New England’s came in the last 10 minutes.

It was rookie goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s second shutout and defensive midfielder Douglas Sequeira scored the goal for Chivas.

Sequeira, playing for Chivas for the first time since June 25 because he had been with Costa Rica for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, gave Chivas the 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.

Taking a left-footed cross from Antonio Martinez, who was closing in from the left side, an unmarked Sequeira just beat Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis to the ball and headed it in past Reis, who came out trying to punch it away.

It was the third assist for Martinez this season and Sequeira’s second goal.

His first goal came on April 9 at San Jose and was a 90th-minute equalizer that enabled Chivas to salvage a 3-3 draw against the Earthquakes.

“It was a good play,” Sequeira said. “I thought when I went for it, I would be able to get a good shot on it.”

New England, which beat Chivas, 1-0, on an 88th-minute goal on April 30 at Foxboro, Mass., was without three top players who are with the United States national team in East Rutherford, N.J., for Sunday’s Gold Cup championship match against Panama.

The Revolution was missing a combined 15 goals and 13 assists from forward Pat Noonan (eight goals, two assists) and midfielders Clint Dempsey (six goals, eight assists) and Steve Ralston (one goal, three assists).

They were also dismayed in the 83rd minute when James Riley’s shot in the penalty area hit Ezra Hendrickson’s left hand, replays showed, but referee Alex Prus ignored it.

“We took initiative,” said Chivas Coach Hans Westerhof. “We played more in their half of the field.”