USA's 2007 season has been maintaining the progress it achieved in 2006 despite a coaching change and the departure of two Mexican star attackers. In the third year of its existence Chivas USA is butting up against the top tier of MLS, and can crack through the barrier separating it from the elite teams this week when it plays D.C. United (Thursday) and Red Bull New York (Sunday) at the Home Depot Center, where it has posted the league's best home record (7-0-1). Critics of MLS wondering how the league can showcase itself without David Beckham should tune in to this national telecast on Thursday night.CHIVAS USA (11-6-3) vs. D.C. UNITED (13-6-3)
Thursday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN2
Cuban striker Maykel Galindo has off set the losses of Francisco Palencia and Juan Pablo Garcia by scoring 10 goals, including one in a 2-1 Chivas USA loss to D.C. United May 6.
Coach Preki has taken over from head coach Bob Bradley preaching the same reliance on fluid soccer and defensive commitment. Chivas USA has shut out 10 opponents this season and has conceded just two goals in home games.
Galindo is quicker than most MLS players, so United central defenders Bobby Boswell and Greg Vanney must make sure there is cover if Galindo is leading the line. Roaming underneath Galindo as the second forward, Ante Razov has scored six goals and assisted on the same number.
The game is just as vital for D.C., which is tied with New England at the top of the Eastern Standings and hosts the Revs Sunday. It has never lost to Chivas USA in five meetings and won, 2-1, at RFK on May 6 with goals from Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno. It has won six games in a row while allowing only one goal.
D.C. coach Tom Soehn, who took over when Peter Nowak left to work with Bradley for the national team, has changed the United system from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2.
He's been tinkering with the central defensive tandem, but used Vanney and Boswell to good effect last week in a 4-0 rout of Dallas. Clyde Simms has taken over a central holding role from Brian Carroll to buttress an interchanging midfield that has provided enough service for forwards Luciano Emilio and Moreno to amass a combined 18 goals.
The Chivas USA middle is patrolled by midfielders Jesse Marsch and Paulo Nagamura. Their staunch work has enabled 38-year-old central defender Claudio Suarez to use his experience and timing to defuse situations.
After playing centrally his rookie season, midfielder Sacha Kjlestan has adjusted well to the right side, though his defensive chores in this game could entail duels with Fred, Gomez and Ben Olsen. The mobility and cohesiveness of that trio has totaled a combined 18 goals and 14 assists.
Left back Marc Burch can be expected to deliver quality balls up the flank and occasionally push forward, so Kljestan will need help.
Bradley did both teams a favor by not summoning any of their players for the USA-Brazil friendly Sunday, so Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA) and Olsen are in their respective teams.
Chivas USA right back Alex Zotinca is still suspended for his head-butt on Kevin Harmse of the Galaxy two weeks ago, but Lawson Vaughn has played that position with speed and tenacity.
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