Chivas USA and Seattle play to scoreless tie

Coming into Saturday’s game against the Seattle Sounders, Chivas USA had a bit of a question mark at goalkeeper.

Zach Thornton was coming off an ankle injury suffered against the Kansas City Wizards on July 10.

But Thornton rose to the ocassion, helping Chivas USA tie the Sounders, 0-0, at the Home Depot Center.

Before Saturday, Chivas USA had defeated the Sounders twice and played them to a scoreless tie. Chivas USA Coach Martin Vasquez said he was impressed with Thornton’s return.

“He came up big,” Vasquez said.

Any uneasiness on the Chivas USA bench regarding Thornton’s health probably went away early when he made an athletic dive to block a shot.

Thornton and Sounders forward Fredy Montero bumped heads while vying for a free kick from Sounders midfielder Nathan Sturgis in the first half. The veteran goalkeeper went down holding his head but quickly sat up.

Jonathan Bornstein tied former Chivas USA midfielder Sasha Kljestan for most appearances with the club at 114. Bornstein entered the game in the 21st minute.

Bornstein will own the record before the MLS season ends but he will not return to Chivas USA next season. He will play in the Mexican league starting in January.

The game ended abruptly after a scramble between Chivas USA defender Mariano Trujillo and Leo Gonzalez led to Trujillo receiving a red card.

Chivas USA is in eighth place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer, and Vasquez said they need wins if they hope to make a surge in the standings.

“We have to continue,” Vasquez said. “Our next opponent is Dallas and we have to approach it with the attitude to win the three points.”

deantae.prince@latimes.com