Chivas USA needed the win to stay alive in the 4 team group. Chivas will take on New England on Sunday to see who advances.

Tough game, tough win. Sometimes the calls go against you (like against Pachuca), sometimes the go for you.

Ante = good

Looking ahead. Here are the standings for group B

New England Revs…………..6
Pachuca………………………3
Chivas USA…………………..3
Santos Laguna………………0

Based on last year’s rules, Chivas USA can advance one of three ways. First Chivas USA win (or draw) and Pachuca loses, Chivas USA goes forward. If Chivas USA and Pachuca win, the goal differential would take precedence. The last way is confusing and would be based on a three way draw. If Chivas USA lose and Santos wins, then there would be a three-way tie. Goal differential would come into play and both Chivas USA and Pachuca are even. If that was still even, then i think there will be a coin toss (joke… I think).

Clear as mud.

As we all wait patiently, Chivas USA reinforced their attack.

What? Where did that come from? At least it will squash those Ruiz rumors.

Here’s the scoop strait from Chivas USA.

CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, July 15, 2008) – Chivas USA today announced the signing of 24-year-old forward Roberto Nurse, a three-year veteran of Mexico’s First Division, as an international player. Nurse, who has been training with the Red-and-White since early June, is eligible to play for Chivas USA pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Chivas USA faces Santos Laguna of the Mexican First Division tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center, in a must-win Group B match of the SuperLiga 2008 international tournament.

“Roberto is a strong, powerful center forward who we’ve been taking a close look at for the past few weeks,” said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki. “He’s good in the air, good with his feet, and will add another dimension to our attack. We’re happy to have him in the squad.”

Born on December 16, 1983, in Mexico City, Nurse is a three-year veteran of the Mexican First Division, having made his top-flight debut with Cuernavaca in 2003 at the age of 19. From 2003-2005, he spent two years in Mexico’s Primera ‘A’ division, first with Zacatepec (2003-2004) then Querétaro (2004-2005). Nurse returned to the First Division in 2005, playing 13 games with Atlante from 2005-2006, and then back to recently promoted Querétaro from 2006-2007, when he played 19 games for the ‘Gallos Blancos.’ From 2007-2008, he was Querétaro’s leading goalscorer in the Primera ‘A’, registering a total of 17 goals between the Apertura 2007 and Clausura 2008 seasons. Nurse’s father, Roberto Tomás, is a native of Panama City, and his mother, Marcela, is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico.

A little info.

Minute 2:20
Nurse gets a brace.

History

“I know there’s some talks going on and obviously we’re kind of seeing what happens in the next couple of days here. I hope for the best result for everybody involved.”

“It’s been absolutely unbelievable. Obviously being able to stay at a club for three and a half years, learning and growing as a player, as a person, I’ve been very thankful for Chivas USA and everything they’ve done for me.”

Wham buddy.

Sounds like an exit is expected.

If this is his last game, Thanks Brad. We will miss you.

Brad was Brad stopping almost every shot on goal. Buddle snuck one past.

Shavar Thomas is back in the fold and played great. Thomas paired with Burling to eliminate the effectiveness of Landon Donovan. Likewise, Mendoza and Bornstein kept Becks out of the equation.

Offense did good, considering the available strikers. Ante is coming into form, and I can only imagine what life will be like in a few weeks when Esky and Galindo are back in uniform.

3 points would have been nice, but at least no one was injured. The next week is going to be busy.

San Jose was a little tougher than expected, but Yallop has the quakes playing aggressive with pressure. Defense seemed impenetrable, with 9 or 10 men were behind the ball at all times.

For the second time in two games, a player of the opposite team went down in the box injured, prohibiting an attack. Last week a Red bull went down in the box, prohibiting arguably the best chance on goal.

I don’t really want to get into the fair play discussion, and I do believe Corrales was injured, but he needs to get off the field. Instead he looked up, saw Chivas USA were in position to do a little damage and went back down. I don’t blame Atiba for playing around him, and at the same time I understand why O’Brien fouled him. I’m just glad Ante is coming into form and converted the penalty.

Chivas USA had a strong first half, creating chances. However, the same problems that have faced Chivas USA continue to haunt them. Injured strikers. Justin Braun has looked dangerous at times, but is still no Galindo or Razov. Atiba Harris will run all 90 minutes but is still missing that little bit. The team still needs something.

The good news is that the reinforcements are coming. Both Galindo and Eskandarian are making progress coming off of successful surgeries. Both will be back around the same time, hopefully in 2-4 weeks.

Is it too late? Nope! After the All Star break, the team will still have 14 regular season games left. It will be interesting to see how the team looks the second half of the season.

Not surprisingly, only six starters were included in the line up. Not sure if Preki thought the first team needed a rest.

Is this a bad thing? Should we go after every tournament? Something should be said for fixture congestion. The Open Cup final is planned for the same day as Chivas USA play Tauro FC, August 26th. Not an issue any more.

About the game, not bad. I think Braun needs a little break, he seems tired. Flores was a not to effective, and Jonny B was pulled around half after a hard bump with El Guzano. Paladini and Chiles need a few more games under their belt.

Sacha Kljestan looked really good. He needed a little help up front, but was doing a great job controlling the midfield. Thomas was back in the line up and dusting off the cob webs. Curtin was solid.

All in all, a tough match and Seattle deserved it that day.

Champions League possibilities.

Open Cup winner
MLS Cup Winner
Supporters Shield Winner
MLS Cup Runner-up

I know Steve started this, and Lalas I’m sure is snickering in the back. Is Preki in on it too?

Details Here.

The match will take place in Seattle and the wounded (including Wicky) will not travel. Additionally Burling and Razov get a day off. I don’t think there injured, and a little rest for Ante is probably a good thing. Braun will be available for the match, even after getting 5 stitches to the dome.

Dentro del Rebano has a little insight.

The Open Cup is finally worth something. A trip to CONCACAF Champions League. This may be the Red and Whites only ticket there.

The Sideline Views included a clip of Preki’s post game for you to hear.

The game was tough, and a draw was probably fair. The young offense is having trouble with consistency, and I’m sure Braun’s black eye and pirate patch didn’t help. Preki made some intelligent and strategic moves out there, including switching Mendoza and Bornstein in order to deal with Richards. I thought Atiba provided a good presence but couldn’t do it all alone. I was really looking forward to Sueno (Flores) coming on the field, but he appeared timid and out of sync with the team.

Unfortunately no time to get into details, Chivas USA take on the Sounders tonight.

Chivas USA take on the Red Bulls Saturday. The team sounds a little bent after losing their point away a couple of weeks ago. I think the Chivas USA controlled that game and were unlucky to get a point, but here is their chance to prove it to me.

Expected Line up.

——-Braun—–Razov——–

Sueno-Wicky-Marsch-Kljestan

Mendoza-Burling-Suarez-Talley

———–Guzan————–

That’s my guess. Here is the game guide with their take.

Apparently both DPs are questionable and Altidora is busy sipping Sangria in Espana so there offensive threat is questionable. Dane Richards will have several foot races with Pancho Mendoza, and this match up will be important. Most of the RBNY’s attack a couple of weeks ago came through Richards.

Nags will be out and so will the other usual suspects (Galido Esky and Zotinca). Hopefully Ante continues his good form. His intelligence on the ball contributes to the development of Braun and Harris. He is a true leader up front. Wicky is still settling in MLS. He shows moments of genius, but is still adjusting to the squad.

Other than that… should be a good game. Chivas USA is not that far from the top of the West, so three points would help.

No prediction, as usual.