For the first time in club history, Chivas USA are in the semifinals of the US Open Cup. And they got there the hard way, by breaking the hex in Houston.
The Goats put on a show at Robertson Stadium on Tuesday night, taking a lead in just the fifth minute and never looking back against the archrival Dynamo. The win vaults them into the USOC semifinals, where they'll meet the winner of Wednesday night's quarterfinal matchup between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC.
The victory was huge for a Red-and-White squad that may have been lacking confidence after earning just one point from their last seven league matches. Chivas USA head coach Martin Vasquez hopes his players can find some inspiration from Tuesday evening's success for the team's road trip to Kansas City this weekend.
"This win is going to help us to grow and to turn this around in MLS," Vasquez said. "We were very disciplined and worked very hard. The guys see that if they work together and are disciplined, they can beat anybody."
The win was the first all-time for Chivas USA in Houston, where they previously had posted a dismal 0-7-2 lifetime record at Robertson Stadium before the victory.
"It's a good feeling to come in here and get a good result," said Michael Lahoud, who notched Chivas USA's second goal of the night. "I feel really good about the team effort. It wasn't a one-man show; it was everyone. That's always been a big part of this team's success in past years."
The Goats have been perennial underachievers in tournament play, whether it was failing to survive the first round of the MLS playoffs in each of the previous four seasons or going no farther than the group stage in the 2008 and 2009 Superliga competitions.
But the Red-and-White seem to have a renewed swagger this season and could make a real run at the club's first major trophy.
"We're taking this competition very seriously," Lahoud said. "When things aren't going your way, it's so easy to lose faith. I think we're showing great resolve. If we can continue in this tournament and spark a revival in the league, then I'm all for it."
Chivas USA resume MLS play next Saturday at Kansas City and will be searching for the team's first league win since May 5.
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