Burpo preserves 1-1 tie for Chivas

Chivas USA goalkeeper Preston Burpo, playing in the absence of starter Brad Guzan, made eight saves to preserve a 1-1 tie against New England on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

Most of Burpo’s best work for Chivas (6-5-3) came in the second half as the Revolution (6-3-5) made its charge after Chivas had taken a 1-0 halftime lead.

Chivas scored in the fifth minute when defender Claudio Suarez, who returned from a one-game suspension, headed in a corner kick by Alex Zotinca.

The lead held up until the 64th minute, when New England also scored on a set play.

Andy Dorman volleyed home Steve Ralston’s corner kick to even the score at 1-1. For Ralston, it was the veteran midfielder’s 114th assist, tying him with Carlos Valderrama for the all-time mark in Major League Soccer.

But the story of the second half was Burpo, who denied U.S. national team forward Taylor Twellman twice on chances three minutes apart, including a header bound for the right corner before Burpo blocked it.

“Their keeper just made some unbelievable saves,” Dorman said. “Give credit to him. He pretty much kept them in the game in the second half.”

Burpo later stopped a header in the 83rd minute by Pat Noonan. Burpo dived to his left, grabbed the ball and released it before falling into the goal.

“I was a little bit lucky,” said Burpo, who has played the last three games while Guzan was with the U.S. team at Copa America. “I had some decent positioning on those shots.”