Chivas wants to take next step against Chicago

Soccer Betting Lines

04/30/2010 - Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA coach Martin Vasquez intended to build his new team around the offense, and in two of the last three games, his plan has worked well.

Chivas defeated Red Bull New York 2-0 on April 10 for its first victory of the season - and New York's only loss so far - and topped the San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 last weekend. Chivas failed to score three goals in a match last year.

Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun, and Chukwudi Chijindu scored in the victory over San Jose but Vasquez is still searching for more as the season continues, with the Chicago Fire up next Saturday at Toyota Park.

"We are still looking for more," Vasquez said after the game against San Jose. "We want to maintain our form for longer periods of the game, and improve our rhythm and tempo.

"We'd like to work towards getting shutouts as well."

Chivas did shut out New York, which has won its other four matches, but hasn't fared well defensively in its other matches. Chivas has allowed eight goals in its other four matches, an average of two a game.

Vasquez may just be satisfied with scoring three goals a game to get results, considering he added Costa Rican midfielder/forward Jose Macotelo to the squad on Friday.

Macotelo, 24, is on loan from Puntarenas F.C., and provides another attacking option for Chivas.

"Jose is a young and dynamic attacking player who can bring a lot the club," Vasquez said. "We're excited to have him join the team and look forward to seeing him in action."

Vasquez has used a unique style, where attacking players switch from position to position throughout the match, and so far his players seem to like it.

"Obviously offense was something that we wanted to work on coming into this year," Chivas USA midfielder Michael Lahoud said.

"It comes back to that mentality; if you don't shoot, you don't score."

In addition to becoming a more consistent team, Chivas needs to get results in its matches against the better teams in the league to take another step toward competing for the title.

Chivas was just 1-7-1 against the four teams that finished atop the standings last season and have already lost to Los Angeles and Houston. Chicago finished second in the East last season, and advanced to the Eastern final.

"Our mind set is to beat those big teams," Lahoud said. "We have to adopt the mindset that we can play with, and beat, anybody. I think that consistency is our next biggest step."

Chivas plays six matches this month, including four on the road, making every point huge leading up to the break before June's World Cup. Chivas also plays one game in early June.

Chicago has won two straight with wins over D.C. United and Houston. New coach Carlos de los Cobos switched the team's formation to 4-5-1 for the D.C. match, and success has followed.

The Fire won their last two matches 2-0, after losing two of their first three this season, and hope for another good result against Chivas this week.

"I think the switch has helped us a lot. We're getting numbers up and more dangerous runs out of midfield," said Chicago's Peter Lowry, who scored in the win over Houston. "It's definitely an advantage for midfielders to have more numbers in there, to clog up and destroy the other team's attack.

"I'm happy about the formation and if that's how we win, great. Let's play that way."

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