Carson, CA – Chivas USA extended its unbeaten streak to four consecutive matches in league play on Saturday after holding on for a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Home Depot Center.
Not much was expected of Chivas USA prior to the season, but the Goats are proving people wrong so far this campaign, winning three of their first five matches, including a 4-1 thrashing of the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park last week.
The hosts got on the board first just 12 minutes into the match with a little bit of luck when Tristan Bowen ripped a shot from the left side of the box that deflected off the back of Whitecaps defender Jun Marques Davidson and past goalkeeper Joe Cannon for the 1-0 lead.
Chivas took the slim advantage into the halftime intermission and added a second goal 10 minutes into the second period when Jorge Villafana whipped a cross into the box and Eric Avila powered it past Cannon with a wicked right- footed volley.
Vancouver would not go down quietly, however, and got back into the match in the 63rd minute after Erik Hurtado launched a shot on frame that was parried away by Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, but he left a big rebound and Whitecaps captain Kenny Miller was there to put it home with a diving header to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Whitecaps pushed numbers forward in the closing minutes and had a spectacular chance to find the equalizer when substitute Kekuta Manneh was put through on goal by Darren Mattocks, but Manneh was unable to get it past a sliding Kennedy and the Goats held on to claim three points.
The win lifts Chivas to second place in the Western Conference with 10 points, while Vancouver remains on six points.
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