MLS Playoff Report - Chivas Vs Kansas City

Chivas USA's defense was able to slow down Kansas City's fast-paced offense. But a set piece was all the Wizards needed. Because of that, KC has a 1-0 aggregate lead on the West's top seed following Saturday's match at Arrowhead Stadium.

The lone goal came off a Davy Arnaud free kick in the 35th minute. Arnaud went for the goal from 33 yards out, and his shot shot cleared the Chivas wall, bounced off the turf and slipped between goalkeeper Brad Guzan and the post, giving Arnaud has third career playoff goal.

Kansas City tried to get a two goal lead early in the second half. Arnaud, Eddie Johnson, Sasha Victorine and Jack Jewsbury all had shots in the box that were stopped by the Chivas defense.

Chivas looked to attack more after bringing in John Cunliffe in the 57th minute.
Cunliffe had a good shot in the box in the 61st, but it was high off the crossbar.

Chivas head coach Preki started five defenders and one forward for the game, mainly because he didn't have much firepower available with strikers Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov hurt.

Chivas will head back to the Home Depot Center on November 3 needing a comeback effort against a Kansas City team that finished fifth in the East but got the West's last playoff spot by finishing with more points than Colorado.

The Wizards, meanwhile, may be hard-pressed to build their lead in the second leg. Chivas only allowed 8 goals in 15 games at the Home Depot Center.

"They're a very good team defensively," Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo told MLSnet.com. "Their whole mindset was to come here and just defend, and they made it very difficult on us."

Chivas players and coaches weren't looking for excuses after the game.

Injuries or no injuries. I'm proud of our guys," Preki told MLSnet.com. "We got an unlucky goal against us. They feel very unfortunate that they lost that game and so do I."

"I think we dominated the game," Guzan said. "Look at the second half -- we dominated possession. We created the majority of chances just couldn't put one in the net."

The team's biggest concern remains to be if Galindo and Razov will play the second leg. The two combined for half of Chivas' 46 goals on the year.