Chivas USA sees tie as a plus given struggles
Chivas USA ended its losing streak at six games on Saturday night.
No, it didn’t win. But Chivas did register only the second tie of its season against the Philadelphia Union, 1-1, at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
“It’s not something to brag about,” Chivas Coach Martin Vasquez said of his team’s tie. “But it’s a plus because of the results we got in the last few games.”
Near the bottom of their conferences, the Union and Chivas could have used a win. With the tie, Chivas moves to 3-9-2.
Early on, Chivas seemed destined to take home its 10th loss of the season.
Chivas, which is 0-8-1 when the other team scores first, allowed Philadelphia the first goal of the game in the 21st minute when forward Danny Mwanga shot into the top-right corner of the net on a header from forward Sebastien Le Toux.
Chivas controlled the ball for most of the game and kept play on Philadelphia’s side. Players used an array of cross and short passes to get into the box, but midfielder Blair Gavin was the only one to break through, scoring in the 42nd minute.
Chivas defender Mariano Trujillo’s cross led to a scramble that ended with Philadelphia’s Cristian Arrieta heading a ball to Gavin for a shot from the middle of the box to beat Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz.
Chivas had multiple chances to score the definitive goal late and win its first MLS game since May 5. It turned corner kicks, open plays and crosses into tries but couldn’t get the ball past Seitz and the Philadelphia defense.
“I’m happy with the effort,” Vasquez said, “disappointed with the result.”
