WIN WORTH THE WAIT FOR CHIVAS GETS FIRST VICTORY IN TWO MONTHS CHIVAS USA 1, CHICAGO 0.

Byline: MATT ZIMMERMAN Staff Writer

CARSON -- Just a minute into the game, the home fans had something to celebrate.

Ninety minutes later, they had something else to cheer about, something they had not seen in a long time: a 1-0 Chivas USA win against the Chicago Fire at Home Depot Center.

While coach Bob Bradley had spoken this week of his desire to see Chivas USA (2-4-1, seven points) win a grind-it-out, close, intense game where every play was pivotal -- an ``ugly'' game, by most descriptions -- there's nothing ugly about threepoints in the standings.

Especially when Chivas' only other win came nearly two months ago.

``Digging down a little bit probably is an important step,'' Bradley said of the close win. ``Good teams know how to survive bad stretches, good teams know how to dig in and not give away goals so that their good soccer in other moments counts for a win.''

The game's only goal came in record time for the home team. In the first minute, forward Ante Razov took a through ball from Sacha Kljestan on the left side of the goalbox, but Chicago goalie Zach Thornton dove to his left to knock the low shot away.

However, Chivas' Juan Pablo Garcia put the rebound away for a lead just 1 minute, 3 seconds into the game.

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Photo:

Chivas USA's Juan Francisco Palenica, right, battles Chicago's Logan Pause for control of the ball in the first half.

Edna T. Simpson/Staff Photographer