Chivas ties San Jose, stays alone in first MLS: However, three teams are one point behind Goats in West.

Byline: Phil Collin, Staff Writer

CARSON - Well, Chivas USA wanted to be in first place at the end of the weekend, and that's where the Goats stand today. But this is not exactly what they had in mind.

Justin Braun's goal in the 66th minute enabled Chivas to salvage a 2-2 tie with San Jose on Saturday at Home Depot Center. The result puts Chivas atop the Western Conference standings with 45points, but also leaves it in a precarious position.

Chivas (13-9-6) is a point ahead of the Galaxy, Houston and Seattle, with the Galaxy and the Dynamo meeting today in Houston. A win by either one will push Chivas back to second place.

The Goats then must embark on a trip to Chicago on Thursday, then return home to close out the season against Houston on Sunday.

"It feels like we lost two points tonight," Chivas coach Preki said. "We have to be better in front of the goal and we had way too many opportunities. If anything we can learn from this game is there are no easy games."

Chivas pummeled San Jose all night with 20 shots, 11 of which were on goal. San Jose had two shots on goal - both from set pieces - and both went into the net.

"For whatever reason, it happens to everybody in the world," Preki said. "For a second you're just not sharp and the other guy scores. It's disappointing because we haven't scored one set-piece goal yet"

Chivas struck first, when Sacha Kljestan sent a long a pass from his side of the field and forward Maykel Galindo chased it down behind the San Jose defense. Galindo carried it into the penalty area and sent a hard shot under Earthquakes goalkeeper Andrew Weber in the seventh minute.

San Jose tied the score on defender Brandon McDonald's goal in the 21st minute, and Ryan Johnson gave the Quakes the lead in the 58th minute when his header floated over Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton.

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