Chivas USA learning that the little things count

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Chivas USA earned its third positive result in as many games Saturday in a 1-1 draw with visiting Seattle. The performance followed a midweek draw on the road at New York and, before that, a first victory over city rivals LA Galaxy in five years with a massive 1-0 win.

The results have come after a pair of trades May 18 that brought U.S. national team vets Juan Agudelo and Danny Califf in exchange for Heath Pearce and Michael Lahoud.

The Goats’ latest impressive performance was most notable for a decisive 60-40 advantage in possession, as well as a 4-3-3 alignment in which wingers interchanged fluidly and outside backs got forward into the attack.

“I think they’re an improved team,” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said following the game. “I think those two additions have infused their flow and their playing with a little more confidence."

But much like the NBA’s Clippers, another club that knows what it’s like to experience lean years before swinging a big trade to change its fortunes, the Goats are learning that it’s the little things that make a difference between winning and losing. Or in this case, between the three points that come with victory versus a one-point draw.

Though Califf has provided a calming presence at the back since coming over from Philadelphia, Saturday proved the pieces around him still have not solidified. Center back John Valencia was caught out of position several times on misplayed headers in the first half, two of which led to breakaways that almost resulted in goals.

Chivas coach Robin Fraser admitted after the game he had been pondering substituting Valencia, but the thought was not acted on until it was too late.

Four minutes after Agudelo scored his first goal for his new team on a powerful header to put Chivas ahead 1-0, another mistake from Valencia gifted Seattle the equalizer. The Colombian was caught ball-watching, allowing Sounders forward David Estrada to sneak behind him for a simple finish past keeper Dan Kennedy. Five minutes later, Valencia was substituted and kicked a water bottle in frustration as he stormed to the locker room.

“It’s something, again, we have to improve at, and as a group we have to grow,” Fraser said of the defensive breakdowns. “Ultimately, to have success, when you’re on top of a team you need to stay on top of a team. Certainly it’s part of our growing process.”

Still, the foundation is there for an exciting young team. Colombian forward Jose Correa, only 19, has scored two goals in five MLS games and has shown advanced target play. Califf has provided steel in the middle. And stationed on the right wing is Agudelo, one of the most exciting prospect in U.S. soccer.

Having been cut from the final 23-man roster for the national team, Agudelo proved a handful on the right wing for the second game in a row for the Goats. By turns, he took on defenders with his pace, overpowered them with strength when pressing off the ball and commanded double teams with his dribbling.

Taking advantage of the positional freedom Fraser has given him, Agudelo also moved centrally at times to start attacks, and midway through the first half even drifted all the way over to the left wing to collect the ball. There he tiptoed along the sideline past Mauro Rosales, before juking Alvaro Fernandez and ripping a long-range shot wide of the Seattle goal.

Several of Chivas’ best chances originated when Agudelo drew two defenders on the wing, then played the ball centrally where it could be switched to the space vacated on the other wing by Seattle’s overloading.

“Agudelo is obviously the future and the hope as well,” Schmid said of the young striker’s importance to U.S. soccer. “He’s a talented kid. He wasn’t getting enough time in New York, so now he’s getting an opportunity to play. And the more games he plays, the better I think he’ll become.”