Carson, CA (Sports Network) - Jorge Flores and Jesse Marsch scored goals one minute apart in the first half to help Chivas USA down the Columbus Crew, 2-0 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
Flores scored for the third consecutive game in the 20th minute, and Marsch followed up with his fourth goal of the season for Chivas, which has now won its last three games. The Crew was then reduced to 10 men when defender Danny O'Rourke was sent off in the 22nd minute.
The win takes Chivas into a three-way tie atop the Western Conference standings with both Houston and Los Angeles on 14 points, while Columbus has lost its last two games, and has not scored a goal since May 10, a span of three games.
It took 20 minutes for the game to heat up, but Chivas seized complete control in a span of three minutes.
A deflected cross from the right flank found its way to Flores at the back post, and he ripped a half volley inside the far post past a helpless Will Hesmer in the Columbus goal.
It took only one minute for the home side to double its lead as a great individual effort from Justin Braun led the team's second goal. Braun did well to win the ball on the right wing and he carried it into the box before slipping a pass to Marsch near the penalty spot. Marsch had Hesmer at his mercy and he made the opportunity count, smacking his shot into the top right corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Things got even worse for the Crew seconds later when O'Rourke was sent off immediately after the game was restarted. The Columbus defender came in with his studs up on Chivas' Atiba Harris, earning himself an early exit and reducing the Crew to 10 men.
The visitors were able to generate a good chance before halftime when Brad Evans ripped a hard shot on target from just outside the area, but goalkeeper Brad Guzan was up to the task and he parried the shot wide.
The Crew tried to get on the scoreboard in the second half as well when Frankie Hejduk's cross deflected off two Chivas defenders and fell perfectly to Adam Moffat, who was right in front of goal. Moffat got plenty of pace on his shot, but Guzan made a terrific reaction save to keep it out, thwarting the Crew's best chance of the match.
Chivas was content with its two-goal lead and didn't pose too much of a threat to add to it, but with three straight wins and a schedule that includes four of its next five games at home, the Goats are starting to hit their stride.