By: Mario Melara
Carson, CA – Be more aggressive in the final third, play team defense, create more scoring chances, make good aggressive runs, and limit individual mistakes.
Chivas USA’s 3-0 victory over the visiting New England Revolution at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night clearly exemplified what head coach Robin Fraser has been trying to tactically instill in his club since day one.
“To have it come together tonight, with a lot of guys making good aggressive runs, getting some goals, getting some results, obviously I’m very excited about that”, said head coach Robin Fraser.
The victory brought to a close a stellar month of April for the “rojo y blancos”, who went 2-0-3, earning a total of 9 points, and now sit in sixth place in the Western Conference division.
Chivas USA struck first in the 22nd minute when an end line pass from Ben Zemanski found Nick LaBrocca who made an aggressive run into the box and headed it past Rev goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
The goats made it 2-0 just before the break in the 45th minute when Alejandro Moreno chipped a lovely ball into the box that was scissor kicked into the back of net by Argentine-born forward Marcos Mondaini.
“I got a good ball in by Ante (Jazic), I was able to turn and put a good ball in, and it was a good finish,” said Chivas USA forward Alejandro Moreno.
A key component of this great recent play has been the stellar goalkeeping by the new Chivas USA number-one Dan Kennedy. In the last five games, Chivas USA has allowed only 2 goals.
“These games you can gain momentum in this league, you can see just in two weeks were we are in the league, standings wise how much it can help”, said Dan Kennedy.
Momentum is the key. With road fixtures next month against annual MLS Cup contenders Real Salt Lake, Columbus Crew, and New York Bulls, plus the annual heated Super Clasico against the Los Angeles Galaxy, the month of May will really showcase what this team is capable of.
Chivas USA seem to have found their identity as a club. Coach Robin Fraser has now kept the initial starting eleven lineup intact for two straight matches and has come out with back-to-back wins. The club plays well in tight spaces, is playing aggressively, and most importantly is limiting the other teams scoring chances.
“It’s wonderful seeing the team maturing”, said head coach Robin Fraser.
To me, it’s wonderful just seeing continuity and a belief in a starting eleven, something that never existed a year ago.
Onward to month the month of May!
