Final: Chivas USA at Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew 1 Chivas USA 0
A sickening way to lose a game for Chivas USA, striker Justin Braun conceding a wholly unnecessary penalty in the 89th minute at the end of a final 45 minutes Chivas USA not only dominated, but saw two Crew goal line clearances within a minute deny them a road win.
Chivas USA Coach Martín Vásquez sounded as if he'd been punched in the stomach:
"We had the ball, we had the possession, we had the tempo, and we had a couple of great chances at least to put on in. I'm happy about that, but the result obviously leaves you with a very empty feeling."
Key stat: Chivas USA outshot the Crew 10-4 in the second half.
Columbus improved to 4-0-2, while Chivas USA dropped to 3-5-1.
Justin Braun's eventful night ended even worse: he left the game with a left knee injury that will be evaluated back in LA.
Chivas USA XI: Zach Thornton, Mariano Trujillo, Darío Delgado, Michael Umaña, Jonathan Bornstein, Jesús Padilla (Maicon Santos 90), Ben Zemanski, Blair Gavin, Michael Lahoud (Marcelo Saragosa 83), Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun (Chukwudi Chijindu 90+)
Next for Chivas USA: defending MLS champion Real Salt Lake Saturday at Home Depot Center.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I didn't see the game live. I had to watch it the next day on the DVR. And even though my brother-in-law blurted out the result, I was very entertained by the 1-2/give and go style that Chivas USA played (and on the road, too). We were clearly the better team that night. But, that's how it goes.
Gavin-o & Zemanski had a great game in the middle of the park. And Sasha's looking better in that withdrawn striker/playmaker role.
I am really enjoying the style of play. Pretty soon we'll catch the bounce! Go Chivas USA!