Chivas USA's Jesus Padilla, whether playing as a winger or withdrawn forward, is not afraid to take chances. The 23-year-old Northern California native, a product of the CD Guadalajara youth system, is happiest with the ball at the tip of his flashing cleats and the opposing defender moving back in alarm, writes Nick Green.

"My personality is the way that I play. I go out there and have fun and enjoy the game," said Padilla. "I know that not everything is going to come off. But if you try it sooner or later it's going to come off and you might just make the winning pass or the goal.

Padilla, who joined Chivas USA late last season after spending nearly a decade with its sister club, shone in Chivas USA's 3-2 win last weekend over San Jose. Earlier in the season, he was responsible for both of Chivas USA's goals against New York in the club's first win of the season as he came off the bench to change the game.

"He has one thing in mind and that's attacking the goal," Chivas USA coach Martin Vasquez said. "He's a technical player, an aggressive one. You see guys that like to play along the touch line and like to run with the ball and he's one of them. We need that dimension, we need that element, that aspect in our game and that's why he's different."