`EMPEROR' MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN BACK FROM WORLD CUP DUTY, SUAREZ SCORES TWO GOALS IN CHIVAS' VICTORY MLS: CHIVAS USA 3, FC DALLAS 0.

Byline: MATT ZIMMERMAN Staff Writer

Trumpets sounded and horns blared, drums echoed, supporters admired a statue of his likeness, and his success brought embraces both from his countrymen and his allies from other nations.

Such is the triumphant return of an emperor from his adventures abroad.

And in his first game back with Chivas USA after his month in Germany as part of Mexico's World Cup team, defender Claudio Suarez celebrated his bobblehead night with a pair of goals four minutes apart to lead Chivas USA to a key 3-0 win against FC Dallas on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center.

``It was a difficult rival, but we played well in the first half,'' said Suarez, who started his career with Pumas in the Mexican League in 1989. ``That's pretty much why we won the game. They started pressuring us in the second half, we were able to contain them.''

Chivas USA (6-5-4, 22 points) extended its unbeaten streak to five games, and also reversed its only loss in the last nine, a 2-1 setback at Dallas (8-4-3, 27 points). In addition, Chivas moved closer to first-place Dallas in the Western Conference standings.

The 37-year-old Suarez's first career MLS goal came in the 20th minute when he headed in Juan Pablo Garcia's corner kick, beating Dallas goalie Dario Sala for a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, it was another Chivas USA corner kick from the left side, and Garcia again found Suarez for a far-post header that made it 2-0 as the HDC's digital on-field advertising boards flashed appreciation for ``El Emperador.``

``We continue to make progress, but we hadn't beaten a team that was really up there in the standings,'' Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley said. ``So I think it's important that now we start to make some additional steps. We've got to build on that, but that's important.''

In the 43rd minute, Garcia finished the first three-assist game in Chivas' two-year history. Guarded closely by Drew Moor, Garcia's back-heeled pass went through Moor's legs to rookie Jonathan Bornstein.

Bornstein, a Los Alamitos High graduate who had started every game this season at left-side defender, slotted the ball past Sala for the final margin.

``I finally got that one, and it felt amazing,'' said Bornstein, who had five goals and four assists last season while playing an attacking role at UCLA. ``When I was running back, I couldn't believe it.''

Though his return to the lineup has been expected after playing just three games before leaving for the World Cup, Suarez was just one of many players who were part of a lineup shuffle.

MLS' leading scorer, Ante Razov, did not play because of a right quadriceps strain, and his absence caused Juan Pablo Garcia to move from right midfield to Razov's spot up front.

Francisco Mendoza -- tied with Garcia for second in the league with five assists -- moved from left midfield to replace Garcia, Bornstein filled Mendoza's position, and Orlando Perez got his first start of the season, for Bornstein. Razov is expected to return for Tuesday's game at Real Salt Lake.

``It's always going to be tight, the whole league is very competitive,'' Dallas coach Colin Clarke said. ``Chivas are a much-improved team from last year.

``They're going to be up there competing with everybody else.''

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