Chivas USA puts on a show
If there were only one image to be saved from Thursday night’s Major League Soccer match in Carson, Sacha Klje- stan would feature in it.
Twenty-six minutes into the game between Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire, the U.S. Olympic team midfielder ran onto a pass from Ante Razov, eluded defender Diego Gutierrez and fired a diagonal shot past goalkeeper Jon Busch.
Kljestan’s fifth goal of the season put Chivas USA on its way to a 2-0 victory that not only ended a two-game losing streak but likely also won over some new fans.
But that wasn’t the image.
It was Kljestan’s celebration that was worth capturing on film or video. He ran over to the stands, punching the air and unleashing a kick-boxing move of sorts before mimicking the kneeling-archer stance made famous long ago by Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Blanco and the Fire did not find it amusing. Nor did the many yellow-clad Club America -- and therefore Blanco -- fans sprinkled in the loud and enthusiastic Home Depot Center crowd of 24,143, a season high.
But the Chivas faithful were delighted. There’s nothing like having a bit of fun at the opposition’s expense.
The home fans were even happier six minutes later when Razov again provided another telling pass that resulted in a goal. This time it was forward Justin Braun who beat a defender to the ball and steered it into the net just inside the near post.
The half would have ended on that high note but for Chivas midfielder Paulo Nagamura earning two yellow cards in the space of 12 minutes, the second of which led to his dismissal by referee Baldomero Toledo just before the half ended.
That left Chivas to play a man down for the second half, but on a night when Razov, Kljestan and Co. were on song, playing bright, attractive and, more to the point, winning soccer, not even a red card or Blanco’s presence could spoil the evening.
With the win, Chivas USA improved to 5-6-2 and moved up from sixth place in the Western Conference into a tie for second behind the Galaxy. Chicago fell to 6-5-1 with its third consecutive loss.
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