Just Another Win For Seattle Sounders Over Chivas USA (VIDEO)
Sep 3, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Seattle Sounders midfielder Andy Rose (5) celebrates with forward Obafemi Martins (9) after scoring a goal in the first half against Chivas USA at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Don’t be surprised if the MLS Supporters’ Shield race goes down to the end-of-season home-and-home between Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy and Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders. A strong first half was more than enough to give the visitors a comfortable 4-2 victory over Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Wednesday night. The Sounders remain the league’s best team at 16-7-3 (51 points) and are the first to hit 50 points on the season.
Here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for the match between Chivas USA and the Seattle Sounders.
1. Seattle hit the ground running…Oba style!
It didn’t take long for the Sounders to show the hundreds in attendance at StubHub why they are still the kings of the Western Conference at this particular moment. In the 11th minute, a Brad Evans corner found the ever-dangerous Obafemi Martins, who scored his eleventh goal of the season off the initial clearance attempt from Bobby Burling. Just a few minutes later, Clint Dempsey (you all should who he is by now, if not, you are living truly under a rock) had two attempts on goal missed wide and cleared, respectively.
2. Double the advantage for Seattle
In the 16th minute, Martins made it 2-0 Sounders off a sequence initiated by Dempsey and Lamar Neagle. At this point, Chivas were at the mercy of the Rave Green Machine. Have a look. The goal is Oba’s 12th of the year.
3. Everything’s coming up Roses for Seattle
In the 38th minute, Andy Rose made it 3-0 Seattle off a set piece by Evans. It came off Martins winning the set piece after he was fouled by Nigel Reo-Coker a minute earlier. It’s Rose’s MLS goal of the year, after going on a tear in U.S. Open Cup play.
But they weren’t done just yet. In the 42nd minute, same set piece, virtually the same location…and the exact same two people. Evans to Rose. Evans to Rose. Evans. To. Rose. Have a look at this instant replay, readers. This was already getting way too easy for the Sounders, way too difficult for Chivas USA and this was only the first half!
4. Delgado salvages pride for Chivas USA
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However, Chivas were not going down without a fight. Marco Delgado was able to figure out Lamar Neagle in the 51st minute to snap a long goalless streak. Up until that goal, Chivas USA had yet to score a goal in seven league matches, or 597 game minutes. They hadn’t scored since July 20. The Sounders’ Chad Marshall was also guilty in failing to mark, leading up to what would end up as mere consolation for the Goats.
5. Chivas USA make things interesting in second half
In the 59th minute, Chivas forward Ryan Finley was fouled by Zach Scott in the box, and he was able to convert the ensuing penalty to make it 4-2 Seattle. And one had to wonder, are the Sounders being a bit too complacent after the halftime whistle?
6. Another tale of two halves
The answer to that question is…yes, they were a bit too complacent but they were able to adjust and stop the bleeding. It did make the team statistics below look more respectable for Chivas USA. However, one decent second half from Chivas is overshadowed by one big, dominant first half from the Seattle Sounders, the best in the West. And the difference? Once again, Evans to Rose.
Team Statistics
Chivas USA in red, Seattle Sounders in green
| 16 | Shots | 12 |
| 5 | Shots on Target | 5 |
| 8 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 3 |
| 1 | Corners | 4 |
| 21 | Crosses | 11 |
| 0 | Offsides | 1 |
| 13 | Fouls | 15 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 576 | Total Passes | 483 |
| 86 % | Passing Accuracy | 83 % |
| 54.7 % | Possession | 45.3 % |
| 38 | Duels Won | 51 |
| 12 | Tackles Won | 22 |
| 0 | Saves | 3 |
| 17 | Clearances | 21 |
Chivas USA Player Ratings
Dan Kennedy 3, Akira Kaji 4, Bobby Burling 3.5, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado 4, Tony Lochhead 4, Eric Avila 4, Marco Delgado 5, Nigel Reo-Coker 4, Oswaldo Minda 2.5, Felix Borja 4, Ryan Finley, 5, Andrew Jean-Baptiste 3, Marvin Chavez 3, Luis Bolanos NR
Seattle Sounders Player Ratings
Stefan Frei 6, Chad Marshall 7, DeAndre Yedlin 6, Leonardo Gonzalez 6, Zach Scott 6, Andy Rose 9, Brad Evans 10, Lamar Neagle 6, Osvaldo Alonso 6, Clint Dempsey 7, Obafemi Martins 9, Chad Barrett 4, Micheal Azira 3, Gonzalo Pineda NR