Sounders lose 2-0 to Chivas USA

Published 11:00 pm Saturday, April 18, 2009

Five games into its history as a major league soccer franchise, Sounders FC will have to wait a little longer for the best record in the Major League Soccer.

Sounders defender James Riley scored an own-goal in the 32nd minute, Chivas USA midfielder Chukwudi Chijindu added an insurance goal in the 84th minute, and Chivas USA knocked off Seattle 2-0 Saturday night at the The Home Depot Center in Carson Calif.

After winning its first three games of the season, Seattle dropped to 3-2-0 overall.

The match featured the top two teams in league meeting for the first time in league play.

Chivas USA entered as the only unbeaten team left in the Western Conference. But a win by Sounders FC, coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Kansas City last week, would have handed Seattle the best record in the MLS.

Thanks to some aggressive play and a little bit of luck, Chivas USA maintained its grip on the league’s best record.

Chivas took a 1-0 lead in the first half after Jonathan Bornstein took the ball up the left post and tried to center the ball to Chivas striker Eduardo Lillingston.

Riley slide and attempted to kick the ball clear, but instead the ball richoted off of his foot and into Seattle’s goal to put Chivas USA ahead for good.

Seattle couldn’t capatilize on its own scoring opportunities, despite out-shooting Chivas 11-5 for the match.

Fredy Montero broke away in the 10th minute, but his chip shot sailed wide left.

In the second half, Nate Jaqua found Steve Zakuani up the left side in the 54th minute, but Zakuani’s shot drifted wide.

Chris Eylander started in goal for the Sounders, who played without keeper Kasey Keller, suspended one game after picking up a red card in last week’s 1-0 loss. In four matches, Keller has not surrendered a goal in 299 minutes. But no one could have blocked Riley’s shot, which spun high and up into the top right corner.

As time wound down and Seattle was forced to play more aggressive, Chijindu took advantage to score his first career goal. Chijindu received a pass from Bojan Stepanovic and slid to punch the ball past Eylander.

Chivas USA was missing midfielder Paulo Nagamura, who picked up a red card against the Los Angeles Galaxy last week.

Chivas USA lived up to its reputation as a foul-prone team, wracking up four fouls in the first 20 minutes of the match, culminating in a nasty take down by Chivas USA striker Lillingston on Sebastien Le Toux, resulting in a yellow card for Lillingston.

For the match, Chivas USA picked up 15 fouls compared to just four for Sounders FC. Both teams received a total of two yellow cards.