Chivas’ 1-0 Victory Is Better Late Than Never

Chivas USA celebrated Cinco de Mayo two days late.

But it only made sense for the somewhat-tardy Major League Soccer expansion franchise to wait six games to get its first victory.

It came Saturday night against expansion brethren Real Salt Lake.

Hector Cuadros’ successful penalty kick in the 39th minute gave Chivas a 1-0 victory before a Home Depot Center crowd of 10,893, setting off a celebration by fans that made the fireworks show after the match seem tame.

Chivas (1-4-1) dominated play against Real (1-3-2), taking more overall shots, 14-11, and shots on goal, 6-4.

Chivas players filled their locker room with Spanish chants of “Tres puntos,” or, three points, referring to the three points they earned with the victory.

“We’re happy but champagne isn’t being uncorked,” Chivas Coach Thomas Rongen said. “That was probably our best 90 minutes.”

Rongen tweaked his lineup, seemingly taking the club’s Cinco de Mayo celebration to the extreme by starting five of the seven Mexican nationals sent to Chivas USA from Chivas de Guadalajara -- midfielder Ramon Ramirez, forward Francisco Mendoza and defenders Alfonso Loera and Armando Begines earned their first starts and Cuadros, normally the play-making midfielder, started at right forward in Chivas’ 4-3-3 formation. Ramirez took over playmaking duties.

Of the Chivas Mexicans, only forward Isaac Romo and injured goalkeeper Martin Zuniga did not play.

Real was dealt two blows. Forward Clint Mathis, who took a knee to the back and lost feeling in his left leg, came out in the 31st minute, and goalkeeper D.J. Countess was lost because of a sprained left shoulder in the 82nd minute after Countess, Thiago Martins and Eddie Pope collided.

The play set up a bicycle kick by Ramirez, 35, that was stopped by the downed Countess.

“I’ve only made [a bicycle kick] in a friendly match,” said Ramirez, who earlier had a dangerous header. “If the goalkeeper had stayed on the ground, maybe ... “

Chivas was awarded its first penalty kick in franchise history when Cuadros’ attempted cross from the right flank hit Real defender Marlon Rojas in the left hand.

Referee Terry Vaughn determined that Rojas was standing inside the box when the contact happened, much to Real’s consternation.

On the kick, Cuadros jogged lightly to the ball before stutter-stepping at the last second, giving himself enough time to fool Countess. The goalie guessed the correct direction, but Cuadros’ shot sailed above the outstretched Countess and into the upper left corner of the net.

“That’s where I normally take them,” said Cuadros, whose second goal tied him with Martins for the team lead. “With [Countess’] presence in the goal, he looked confident, but I was confident too.”

As was Chivas’ 20-year-old rookie goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

After Countess left the match, Real had to play a man down because it already had used its three substitutions.

Still, Real had two dangerous chances on the resultant restart, but Guzan made the saves, one with his feet, the other with a dive.

“It’s always a good feeling when you get a shutout and your first win in front of amazing fans,” said Guzan, who had four saves. “With every day my confidence grows.”

As does Chivas’ with its first victory.