Colorado Rapids defeat Chivas USA, 1-0

Chivas USA (3-2-1) fell, 1-0, to Western Conference rival Colorado (2-3-2), when the Rapids' Deshorn Brown scored on a first half penalty kick Saturday night at Carson's Home Depot Center.

Brown's second goal of the season came after being awarded a penalty inside the 18-yard box for too much contact on the challenge.

"I was on the left side and [midfielder Dillon Powers] played a through ball," said Brown.  "They controlled it and the defender kicked my foot from behind and I felt the referee give us a PK. I stand up and kick it as a man and tonight we get the result. It’s a great feeling."

Chivas USA had a golden opportunity to tie the game with a penalty kick of its own in the 36th minute, as forward Jose Correa was bumped by a Colorado player while going up for a ball. However, Correa’s shot went off the post.

Despite that setback, the Rojiblancos continued to battle, getting into dangerous spots in their attacking third.

As the first half entered stoppage time, midfielder Eric Avila sent a cross from the right side into the box. Midfielder Jorge Villafaña headed the ball toward goal, but the attempt was not on target. Forward Tristan Bowen gathered the loose ball on the right side near the end line and crossed it back to Laurent Courtois, who one-timed his shot over the crossbar.

Later, in the 58th minute, Avila again sent a cross from the right side which was batted away in the air to an unmarked Courtois inside the box. The midfielder – who came on as a sub in the 31st minute – brought the deflected ball down off his chest and one-timed his strike, but the shot sailed over the crossbar.

The Rojiblancos continued to knock on the door, as Carlos Alvarez’s right-footed curling shot from top of the 18-yard line traveled over the crossbar in the 73rd minute.

Although the Goats continued to push their numbers forward throughout the match, they were unable to get on the board, as stoppage time ran out and the 1-0 result stood.

"It was a well-deserved loss," said Chivas USA coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola. "Today, my team wasn’t decisive, we didn’t have ideas and we presented a poor performance."

With the loss, the Rojiblancos remain in second place with 10 points. Chivas USA next will travel to face Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 20, for the first of three meetings between the clubs.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald and news services