MLS: CHIVAS GETS TIE, BUT MISSES OPPORTUNITY CHIVAS USA 1, SAN JOSE 1.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

CARSON - Chivas USA coach Hans Westerhof doesn't like settling for ties much, but that's all his team could muster against the injury-riddled San Jose Earthquakes.

Chivas midfielder Ezra Hendrickson scored the tying goal in the 66th minute, but the red-and-white saw their winless streak extended to seven after a 1-1 draw in front of 8,654 at Home Depot Center on Sunday.

Chivas is now 1-9-3 (6 points).

``I think it was a nice game, but we needed two points more,'' Westerhof said. ``This was a game we needed so badly, and we fought for it. But we gave it away the last five minutes before halftime.''

You can't blame that on goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who was making his first start since May 18. He came out and made two terrific saves on San Jose forward Ronald Cerritos, bailing out Chivas' backline with breakaway saves in the 22nd and 39th minutes.

But he wasn't as fortunate a third time. Earthquakes forward Alejandro Moreno received a through pass from Dwayne De Rosario, and surged ahead, splitting two defenders to leave himself alone with the hard-charging Guzan. Moreno didn't waste his chance, tucking a right- footed shot inside the right corner for a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute.

``We played well the first 40 minutes,'' Westerhof said. ``We had the initiative on the field, and that's important for me. But the last five minutes of the half we made a couple of mistakes at midfield that led to the goal. That's just concentration.''

Chivas kept pressing forward in the second half, and finally found the equalizer when Hendrickson, doing what he does best, sneaked up the right side and found himself running onto a Ramon Ramirez cross. He timed it beautifully, striking a right-footed volley that goalkeeper Pat Onstad could only get a glove on before ricocheting into the net.

``I saw Ramon going with the ball, and the entire defense was moving over, so I delayed my run a little bit. And he (Ramirez) saw me far-post, and all I had to do was guide it,'' Hendrickson said.

In the end, Chivas brought in forward Arturo Torres and attacker Hector Cuadros. It left them dangerously thin in the back, but it was clear Westerhof was gambling for the winner. It nearly cost them, because De Rosario appeared to score in the 92nd minute, but he was ruled offside.

``I want to show to the team that I want to win,'' Westerhof said of going with so many attackers. ``It's always a risk when you're playing one-against-one (defensively) against quick strikers. But, we had to do it. We have nothing to lose. We have to go for wins.''

With Colorado looming on Saturday, Hendrickson echoed his coach's thoughts that Sunday's tie felt like two points lost instead of one earned.

``We're at the bottom of the table, and we need to get maximum points every time, especially at home,'' he said. ``Tonight was a good night to get three points, and another Saturday would have put us in good position. So, we just need to go back to work and make sure we get a win on Saturday.''

Fred Robledo, [phone]

fred.robledo(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Chivas USA's Ezra Hendrickson, right, collides with San Jose's Eddie Robinson during the second half on Sunday. Hendrickson scored in the 66th minute as Chivas finished with a 1-1 tie.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News