With Houston stunning Pubela in the first Group A match of the day, Chivas USA was eliminated no matter what result they managed to pull off against Pachuca last night. Despite that, the Goats were a cohesive flock on a mission, and managed to pull off a thrilling 1-0 win over Los Tuzos in their Super Liga finale. Giancarlo Maldonado answered the pressure I put on him in my last post by scoring the golden goal, Dan Kennedy earned the clean sheet per Brandon's lofty expectations, and Chivas triumphed to finish the group round 1-1-1, two points shy of what they needed to advance. Group A sees Houston (7 points) and Puebla (6 points) rolling on to the semifinals, while seeing Chivas (4 points) and Pachuca (0 points) fall out.
It surely didn't take long for Chivas to send the HDC home crowd (almost 15,000 strong) into a frenzy. Veteran defender Ante Jaziç collected a ball and sent a thrilling long pass right to the foot of a streaking Maldo-gol. He was ahead of the defenders, thanks to his break neck speed after the kick, and was able to go in on goal and bury the game's only netter just 7+ minutes in. The first career goal with the Red & White for the 28 year old all time leading scorer from Venezuela was a darned exciting one, and it's nice to see our new striker starting to gel with his teammates. Just 8 minutes later, Chivas got lucky to keep the score where it was. A Pachuca attacker got past the defense, danced around Dan Kennedy, and then slipped to the ground before he could put the ball in the net. Phew! Maldo had another sweet chance to create something in the 21st, but a hopeful pass to Jesus "El Gringo" Padilla would end up as a shot saved by the Mexican side's keeper. After 45, Giancarlo's goal would stand up.
It would stand up after 90 as well, as the only real Pachuca chance ended in a ball sliding just outside the far post while Kennedy diving to try and make the save. The defense was tested for the Goats, but luckily nothing for Pachuca would grace the score sheet. As time came to a close, striking sub Chukwudi "Chuk Wagon" Chijindu would show a flash of why he's Andrew's favorite Chiva Fighting (appointed by me, of course), as he blew past two defenders before ringing his shot off the cross bar. It would have been sweet for Chuk, but it's a game of inches (or is that baseball...or hockey...or American football?), and he was denied. In the end, though, Chivas would be the team celebrating, despite not advancing beyond the groups, as this game continues to show the development of this club as we continue to try and turn the MLS season around (not to mention trying to continue US Open Cup success).
This was finally a lineup that seemed to work, so let's take a look at why.
G- Kennedy: I'm wondering if everyone is starting to kind of forget about ZTB like I am. I know it's not fair, but Kennedy is ready to be the #1, and after this injury, maybe it's time to the The Beast, thanks for everything, you were great, but your the backup. Still no word out of the Chivas camp about the ETA for ZTB, so maybe it has already gone that way.
D- Jaziç, Trujillo, Delgado, and Borja: Wow, my picks of Borns/Trujth/Cuesta/Umaña were way off tonight. My only thought is that with Houston winning and eliminating us before our game even started, Vasquez decided to let Umaña and Born Identity sit this one out. Although, with Bornstein moving to the FMF next season, I'd like all of him I could get, please. I guess Jaziç was the right call, though.
M- Romero, Gavin, Zemanski, and Espinoza: Wow, I nearly got this one, and I probably would have if Nagamura wasn't stil at home with his new baby. I did say I would also like Osael out there, which was nice to see. However, I think the two Zips starting at middie shows that someone at Chivas must be reading this blog. I likened Gavin and Zemanski to the Sedin twins, being that they have been roommates ever since suiting up for the University of Akron together. It was great to see them rolling together. It was interesting to see Rodolfo play his first game without an assist, and I wonder if that's why Gerson Mayén got the call for him at the 72nd. Overal, I think the middies did well.
F- Padila and Maldonado: It was great to see Giancarlo put one in the net and solidify his starting spot, and it's great to have El Gringo up striking, but I again would have to think Braun would have got some more action if this was a meaningful game. For example, he would have been subbed in the 55th for Maldo, rather than Chuk. This team is just too talented up front.
After the game it was announced that 23 year old striker Sal Zizzo is coming to Chivas by way of the MLS lottery. ...and the attackers get even better. Zizzo is a UCLA alumni, played with Hannover 96 in Germany, and has 8 caps with the US National teams. He's a San Diego native, an American and Italian citizen (real name: Salvatore), but has a history of ACL problems. A strong possibility of being our striker of the future.
Next up for El Rebaño, it's back to the MLS, as we travel to take on the MLS Champs in Sandy, UT. Real Salt Lake and Chivas will renew their rivalry Saturday night, and we get to enjoy the game via Fox Sports Prime Ticket. RSL are #2 in the West, 9 points shy of the out of control Los Angeles Galaxy, but I wonder if our expansion counterparts will be able to keep up with the energy of a Chivas team renewed with recent wins and fresh players.
What kind of lineup will we be sending out in our return to MLS play?
G- Kennedy: Obviously.
D- Bornstein, Umaña, Trujillo, and Jaziç: We have to get Borns and Umaña From Heaven back out there, the Trujth has became the kind of back who is out there no matter what, and Jaziç earned another cap with the sweet assist in the Pachuca match.
M- Espinoza, Gavin, Zemanski, and Lahoud: Just because Rodolfo went without an assist doesn't mean he should be kept out, right? Our expectations may be a little inflated for our Mexican middie. After seeing my combo of Gavin and Zemanski (nickname: The Zip Twins?) start the Super Liga finale, I want more, and I have to give the nod to Michael Lahoud. I can't keep the Demon Deacon out, not knowing if Paulo Nagamura will be back from family leave or not.
F- Braun and Maldonado: Alright, so Maldo-gol gets his first MLS start after scoring his first Chivas goal. I know that Justin Braun starting keeps Padilla out of my Starting 11, but I'm envisioning El Gringo subbing in for Lahoud after the first 45, and can you imagine having Braun, Maldo, and Padilla rushing up front against RSL? We need the fire power.
Subs- That would give me a prettu hefty sub list of Padilla, Osael Romero, Chuk Chijindu, Gerson Mayén, Cuesta, Delgado, Borja, and Maykel Galido. If I'm picking the three subs I'd most likely go to against RSL, I'm taking Jesus, Osael, and Dario Delgado.
It's a Saturday night brawl between Las Monarcas and El Rebaño. A battle of the expansion class of 2005. A game to show just how far Chivas has come after a slow MLS start.
¡Arriba Las Chivas!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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