With six players making their MLS debut, and under the guidance of new Head Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola “Chelis,” Chivas USA had a number of dangerous looks at goal in front of its home crowd, but fell, 3-0, to the Columbus Crew Saturday night in its 2013 season opener at The Home Depot Center. The visiting side was led by three second-half goals. Federico Higuain put the Crew ahead by one and Josh Williams and Dominic Oduro scored the second and third goals, respectively, to pull away late in the game.
- Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was solid in goal, holding Columbus scoreless for the first 50 minutes of play. Within the first minute the Red-and-White captain made a goal-saving dive to his right on a shot from the right side of the box.
- The Rojiblancos had a golden opportunity to break the scoreless match in the 27th minute. The Red-and-White defense forced a turnover near their attacking third and went on a fast-break down the middle of the field. Forward Julio Morales (one of the six making their debut), in a one-on-one with Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, took his shot inside the box but the Black-and-Gold keeper batted the shot away. A minute later, Morales again got inside the box, this time on the end of a short Giovani Casillas pass that he chipped over top. But again, Gruenebaum was there to break up the threat. Casillas, a product of Chivas Guadalajara, was among the other five players making his debut with the Rebaño Angelino.
- In the 41st minute forward Tristan Bowen got into range just left of the penalty arc and unleashed a strike from about 25 yards out, but the attempt sailed wide of the near post. Both sides’ defense applied solid ball pressure and sent the match into half time locked at zero.
- Columbus went up 1-0 in the 51st minute on Higuain’s shot from behind the penalty arc, which grazed the inside of the right post and into the back of the net. Forward Jairo Arrieta served the ball to his right from the left wing for the assist.
- Sanchez Sola made two substitutions to start the second half. Midfielder Eric Avila looked to set up Juan Agudelo (came on for Morales) on a cross into the box from his right wing position, but Agudelo’s header sailed over the crossbar. Midfielder Miller Bolaños – who came on for Casillas – got inside the box in the 59th minute and took a shot from the left side that was batted away.
- In the 72nd minute, Avila again worked the ball near the right sideline and threaded a pass to Bolaños who got into the right side of the box and took a shot that was deflected. Agudelo recovered the loose ball near the penalty spot and with his back to the net, turned and shot, but his strike traveled high over the crossbar.
- Kennedy kept the Rojiblancos close when he broke up a one-on-one attack in the 81st minute against Ryan Finley.
- Columbus extended the lead to 2-0 in the 88th off a corner kick from Eddie Gaven which Williams tapped in inside the left post near the short area. Oduno made the final marker 3-0 in stoppage time when he beat Kennedy on a solo breakaway.
