First XI: Is it time for Chivas USA?
Red-and-White have been class of MLS through six weeks
What becomes immediately at stake for SSFC is "second-best expansion team in MLS history," a title that belongs all alone to Chivas USA.
And before old Miami Fusion fans come climbing out of the woodwork, let me just say, "Don't go there." The Fusion earned a playoff spot in their inaugural season, for sure, but the league's landscape was so different back then. When you see the Fusion made the playoffs again in 1999 -- with all of 29 points (eight regulation wins) -- you see what I mean (though I will grant you that 2001 Supporters' Shield season).
Chivas USA are a big-picture success story that's been magnified in recent years as it's become harder and harder for new teams to break into the MLS postseason.
After a disastrous (4-22-6) first season, when coach Thomas Rongen was forced to adhere to unrealistic player acquisition policies, Chivas USA have been one of the best and most consistent (regular season, anyway) teams in the league. Their turnaround began gradually, becoming a playoff team with a .500 record in 2006, then really took flight under promoted assistant coach Preki, who led the team to a regular-season Western Conference title (53 points) in 2007 and a second-place finish in the conference a year ago, as his team battled injuries.
So far this season, Chivas have been the class of the league with a 5-1-1 record through the season's first month. Preki's team, with an infusion of new, young talent, has allowed only three goals in seven games, and opened up (with a game in hand) a four-point lead over Seattle in the standings and the race for a Supporters' Shield.
More importantly, Chivas USA have gotten the job done without the services of all-time leading scorer Ante Razov and only limited minutes (77 in two substitute appearances) from Maykel Galindo. As the club has come up short in three consecutive first-round playoff series, Chivas USA have always fallen victim to a lack of depth at forward.
In 2006, after taking a 2-1 victory against Houston in Game 1, Paco Palencia was shown a red card in the second half of Game 2, and Razov was hobbling. As Game 2 wore on, Chivas had no offensive answers. Houston came back to win the series ... and MLS Cup.
In 2007, again, Razov and Galindo were hurt and the Chivas attack was futile in a loss to Kansas City. Last year, in a series with Real Salt Lake, Galindo was a no-go and Chivas bowed out again in the first round.
Preki's mission this season was, no doubt, to find some other players who can add to the attack. The coach knows that come October and November, he cannot just rely on prayer.
So far, so good. Chivas has gotten goals from six different players, including a pair from scrappy newcomer Eduardo Lillingston. Two other Preki signings, midfielders Chukwudi Chijindu and Bojan Stepanovic, have also tallied timely goals. Alecko Eskandarian, a Preki reclamation project, also shows signs of returning to his old form. Justin Braun, who scored four goals a year ago (and one more in the playoffs) has yet to find the net, nor has attacking midfielder Sacha Kljestan (five goals a year ago) or Jesse Marsch (four goals a year ago). And that's not even mentioning that Sasha Victorine (two goals in five games for Chivas after he was acquired by Preki late last season).
If Preki's men can continue to pick up points while waiting for some of the old guard to get healthy or find their top form, Chivas USA could be the league's deepest team come October.
It is still early, of course, but I'm a big believer in "the process." Chivas USA has enough continuity since 2006 to be considered a team that's grown together, but has had to adjust on the fly enough over the past couple of seasons that they've not gotten stale.
Winning a Supporters' Shield would validate the process, but the biggest hurdle for Preki and Co. is what is going to await them at the end of the regular season. For the second-best expansion team in MLS history, it's time to make some postseason noise.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
