Even though it holds no real sense of rivalry, despite their proximity, Chivas USA away to San Jose Earthquakes is always a game I look forward to. It gives the fans the chance to go on a relatively short road trip and throws up the opportunity to get one over on another Californian team. The added bonus is that you look forward to seeing your side try and cope with players you genuinely dislike because of their tactics. So even though it is not quite like the derby it should be, this was one of the last opportunities the club, in its current format, will get to play against San Jose. As Wilmer Cabrera stated after the game, it was just not good enough. Just like this non-derby fixture overall actually.
“We played well, but that’s not good enough. We have to score.”
– Wilmer Cabrera
One thing Chivas USA are doing this year is playing better than they have done in the past. Simply put, they are not as boring to watch in 2014. Unfortunately, despite the prolific exploits of Cubo Torres, the Goats are struggling for goals. This was highlighted last night at the Buck Shaw stadium when we had no plan B to the “let’s hope Cubo scores again” plan. With two strikers on the bench, it was Carlos Alvarez that started in behind our top scorer and fans debated this selection immediately. Should Bofo have started this week? Could the players behind Torres step up and take the pressure off him?
Winless since the first game of the season, Chivas USA started well and outplayed San Jose in the first half. Some of the passing and movement was good to watch but in the final third we were left wanting. A decent final ball or end product from the midfield was lacking and as Cabrera pointed out, “we played well, but that’s not good enough.”
Knowing we were struggling in front of goal, the Quakes came out in the second half a better team and Yannick Djalo volleyed in after 66 minutes. There was time left for Chivas to salvage something though and they had options on the bench. However, when Dan Kennedy was shown red for handling the ball outside the box, it became too much of a mountain to climb. Pelletieri was sacrificed after the sending off and later we saw our forward options of Bofo and Moore come on. The substitutions made by Cabrera took a bit of flack from fans online. Why not pull Minda who was on a booking and leave the more forward thinking Pelletieri on? Why not risk more and at least go down entertaining the travelling fans? It all seemed a bit cagey and personally I would like to see Cabrera risk more. The starting 4-5-1 was perhaps an example of this.
Nevertheless, I was adamant the theme of my articles this year would be positivity. I am still enjoying seeing a different group of players taking the field for the Rojiblancos and the attacking play of this group is of much better standard. We still lack goals, but Cubo’s tally at this stage of the season is something we are not used to either. And finally, watching the game on television last night you could hear the travelling support of the Union Ultras and Black Army making themselves heard. Once again, they showed this club has a fan base deserving of investment.
(image courtesy of Robert Stanton)
