Chivas Slays Red Bulls

by TJ Boyce - July 26, 2007

Chivas USA got a goal and an assist from veteran Ante Razov to break out of their recent road slump, defeating the New York Red Bulls by a score of 2-0 at Giants Stadium on Thursday night.The Red Bulls nearly struck first just five minutes into the game. After John Wolyniec drew a foul on the left side of the field, Claudio Reyna’s ensuing free kick curled into the box, glancing off of Juan Pablo Angel’s head and striking the right post before heading out of play.

In the 17th minute, Reyna sent in a corner kick that again found Angel in the box. The Colombian’s snap-header was on target but Chivas keeper Brad Guzan extended to make the save, with Seth Stammler’s follow-up shot going wide.

Angel had two more chances later in the half to put the Red Bulls ahead, but his free kick in the 28th minute and his open header in the 35th minute were easily taken care of by Guzan, keeping the game scoreless.

In the 38th minute, the punchless Goats jumped in front thanks to Razov’s 104th career MLS goal. As Maykel Galindo took the ball down the right side of the field, Razov gained separation from his defender, allowing him to redirect Galindo’s cross into the top part of the net and past New York keeper Jon Conway.

Despite dominating play in the first half, the Red Bulls went into the locker room down 1-0.

In the second half, New York came out firing and nearly equalized in the 49th minute. John Wolyniec’s cross found forward Jozy Altidore streaking into the box. The teenager’s soft touch beat Guzan but clanged off the crossbar before being cleared away.

Chivas would put the game away in the 87th minute when Sacha Kljestan and Razov would combine for the team’s second goal. After Juan Pablo Angel coughed up the ball in midfield, Kljestan laid the ball off to Razov who led ‘Hollywood’ down the middle of the field with a perfect chip. With only one defender to beat, Kljestan used his body to fend off Hunter Freeman and sent a shot in that keeper Conway misplayed, allowing the ball to trickle into the net for Kljestan’s second goal of his career.

A late attempt by Angel in extra time was cleared off the line by Rodrigo Lopez, preserving the shutout for Chivas and sending the Red Bulls to defeat.


Scoring
CHV – Ante Razov (Maykel Galindo) 38’
CHV – Sacha Kljestan (Ante Razov) 87’

Line-Ups
CHV – Brad Guzan, Claudio Suarez, Shavar Thomas, Francisco Mendoza, Ante Razov (Jason Hernandez 92’), Maykel Galindo (Laurent Merlin 73’) Jonathan Bornstein, Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, Alex Zotinca (Rodrigo Lopez 83’), Lawson Vaughn

NYRB – Jon Conway, Kevin Goldthwaite (Dema Kovalenko 72’), Hunter Freeman, Seth Stammler, Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna, Dave van den Bergh, Joe Vide (Clint Mathis 60’), John Wolyniec, Jozy Altidore (Dane Richards 59’), Chris Leitch