CARSON, Calif. -- Jorge Flores and Jesse Marsch each scored for the third consecutive match as Chivas USA beat the Columbus Crew 2-0 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
With the result, the Red-and-White moved into a tie atop the Western Conference with Houston and Los Angeles as all three sides have 14 points. It was the third consecutive victory for Chivas, while the Crew are now winless -- and goalless -- since running off five consecutive victories.
Flores continued his remarkable storybook run with his first-half tally. The 2007 Sueno MLS winner made his second consecutive start on the left flank and rewarded coach Preki's decision by knocking in his third goal of the season. Marsch, meanwhile, kept pace with the teenager by scoring his fourth goal of the season.
Both goals came within a minute of each other, just before the Crew were left a man down for the rest of the match after defender Danny O'Rourke was sent off.
Chivas USA, meanwhile, might have finally found a bit of consistency. The club used the same starting lineup in consecutive games for the first time all season. While injured players such as Claudio Suarez and Shavar Thomas dressed, neither player started the match. Also on the bench to start the game was Ante Razov. Other injured players, though, did not dress, such as Jonathan Bornstein, Lawson Vaughn and Raphael Wicky.
Chivas USA's first scoring opportunity came from an unexpected source. In the 12th minute, Jim Curtin rose for a header on a corner kick but placed his shot just high of the crossbar.
The hosts finally broke through in the 20th minute. Marsch started the play deep in his own end, as he slipped a ball to Carey Talley on the right flank. Talley carried the ball down the right side and sent a cross into the penalty area towards Atiba Harris. With Danny O'Rourke marking him, Harris could not get to the ball but O'Rourke's failed clearance attempt fell to Flores, who slammed a left-footed volley into the back of the net.
The celebration had barely died down when Chivas USA struck again. Justin Braun won a ball on the right side against Columbus defender Chad Marshall. Braun ran toward the penalty area and found Marsch in the middle of a crowd. Marsch settled the ball and knocked a vicious 12-yard shot into the back of the net.
Luck smiled again on the hosts, unfortunately at Harris' expense. O'Rourke, who had argued that Harris had fouled him on Flores' goal, had a studs-up slide tackle on his Chivas USA counterpart. O'Rourke was immediately sent off by referee Fernando Galvan and Columbus was down to 10 men 22 minutes into the match.
Harris suffered a laceration on his right leg but it did not faze him as he continued in the match.
Brad Guzan, who played 45 minutes for the U.S. national team in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to England in London, came up with a splendid save in the 36th minute. Brad Evans lined up a 20-yard blast but Guzan was up to the task and parried Evans' rocket away.
Thomas replaced Burling in central defense in the 61st minute as Preki went to the bench for the first time.
Guzan again had a fantastic save in the 66th minute. Crew midfielder Adam Moffat snapped a shot on goal from short range but Guzan reacted quickly and stopped the ball on the goal line.
Razov replaced Braun up top in the 68th minute. The MLS original nearly bagged a goal a few minutes later but slipped a shot on an empty net just wide.
Columbus tried to send numbers forward throughout the second half but steady defending and an 11-on-10 advantage kept Chivas USA from allowing a goal. Columbus had a few chances, with Moffat's point-blank shot the best of the lot, but Chivas USA did more than enough to pick up their second shutout of the season.
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