Carson, CA – Chivas USA lost on the road for the first time this season last week, but midfielder Nick LaBrocca quickly turned the page to Friday's home game against the Chicago Fire.
While Chivas started the season with three straight road wins - over Real Salt Lake, the Portland Timbers, and Toronto FC - it has lost all four of its games at The Home Depot Center in Major League Soccer.
Even worse, Chivas (3-5-0) has not scored a single goal at home to date.
"We just need to start focusing on winning our home games," LaBrocca said last week after a 4-0 loss at the Colorado Rapids, "and obviously scoring goals.
"That's basically what it comes down to for us."
Although last week's result was not a good indication of the match against the Rapids, Chivas USA coach Robin Fraser realizes the final score is what really matters.
"At the end of the day, the score is what is going to be remembered," Fraser said, even though his team gave up three late goals.
"While there were some things that were good out of it, at the end of the day you have to look at the result and not be satisfied."
Fraser can find comfort in the fact Juan Pablo Angel returned last weekend for the first time since early in the season, and attacker Alejandro Moreno and midfielder Pete Vagenas returned to practice early this week.
Angel, who has 68 goals in his MLS career, acknowledged he was not 100 percent fit, but last week's match was a step in the right direction.
"It's going to take a few more games just to get the match fitness and the sharpness, but I think the only way to get there, as I say, it just by playing and I hope I get the rhythms as soon as possible," Angel said.
Chicago (2-2-2) visits Chivas riding an eight-match undefeated streak in all competitions in the series. The Fire have not lost to Chivas since 2008.
But the Fire will be without manager Frank Klopas and defender Jalil Anibaba, both suspended following incidents last week in a 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC. Anibaba was sent off in stoppage time, and Klopas was also sent off.
But with a 7-4-3 edge all-time, and Chivas poor at home to date, Chicago could be in position to escape the HDC with another result.
Both sides will need a positive result to start tough months, as Chicago plays Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City, the Portland Timbers, FC Dallas, and the Columbus Crew before June.
Chivas also faces a tough stretch as it visits the San Jose Earthquakes, plays the Los Angeles Galaxy, visits Red Bull New York, and hosts Seattle.
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