Sounders FC loses 2nd in a row, 2-0

CARSON, Calif. — That sound from the Home Depot Center? It was the thud of a Sounders FC team officially landing back on earth.

Which is to say that Seattle is back in the stratosphere after a high-flying 3-0 start to the season. Its 2-0 loss to Chivas USA on Saturday night with first place in the Major League Soccer Western Conference on the line gave Sounders FC (3-2) two losses in a row.

Where last Saturday Sounders FC was simply outmanned after goalkeeper Kasey Keller's red card in the first half, Seattle committed crucial errors in the beginning and in the end despite playing with a full 11 against Chivas.

Seattle's first tough break: forward Fredy Montero had an empty net in front of him after controlling a pass from midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who had split two defenders and hit Montero in stride during the 10th minute. Montero chipped the ball over the defender in front of him but it missed the net wide left.

The small contingent of rave-green wearing Sounders FC fans in the stadium could only put hands on heads in dismay. The rest of the 15,463 in red and white got to enjoy the final outcome.

"I hit it over the goal, sadly," Montero said in Spanish, "and I think it seemed like it changed the story of the game."

Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said that play was critical.

"If Montero strikes his chance, then we're up 1-nothing and it alters how the whole game gets played out," Schmid said.

Difficult as that was to overcome, the big blow of the night came in the 32nd minute. Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan made a run toward the Seattle goal, then tapped the ball to forward Eduardo Lillingston, who sent it through to Kljestan in soccer's version of an NBA give-and-go. Kljestan passed to defender Jonathan Bornstein, whose crossing pass was dangerously close to the goal. So close, in fact, that Sounders FC defender James Riley, in an attempt to clear the ball, deflected it into the net past goalkeeper Chris Eylander for an own goal.

"This game's about inches, for sure," Riley said. "I just got a late read on it, so I take full responsibility. I was just trying to slide to block the cross."

Chivas sealed the victory with Chukwudi Chijindu's shot past a diving Eylander to his left in the 84th minute. Chijindu benefited from a fine run from midfielder Bojan Stepanovic, who got ahead of Sounders FC defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado on the left side.

Chivas USA, which was the more physical team (18 fouls to Seattle's 6), is 4-0-1 and has 13 points, four ahead of Seattle. The two goals were the most Sounders FC has allowed in a game this season, and if the Colorado Rapids win today, Seattle will drop into third place in the West.

Eylander was credited with one save in the first start of his MLS career. He got the call in place of Keller, who had to miss the match while serving his one-game red card suspension.

"Unfortunately, the two good chances they had on us resulted in goals," Eylander said.

Now Sounders FC faces another first in its short history — a losing streak.

"The game at home [against Kansas City] was different," Montero said. "Nevertheless, we move on with two losses and this week we have to rise up. We have to remember the good things we did in the games we've won, and defend our home field and get the points that are so important."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

CHIVAS USA 2, SOUNDERS FC 0

LINEUPS

Seattle — Chris Eylander (GK), Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, James Riley (Sanna Nyassi, 71:00), Sebastien Le Toux (Steve Zakuani, 46:00), Freddie Ljungberg, Tyrone Marshall, Fredy Montero, Zach Scott, Nate Jaqua, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.

Chivas USA — Zach Thornton (GK), Shavar Thomas, Alecko Eskandarian (Michael Lahoud, 70:00), Mariano Trujillo, Carey Talley, Jonathan Bornstein, Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, Atiba Harris (Gerson Mayen, 76:00), Bojan Stepanovic, Eduardo Lillingston (Chukwudi Chijindu, 56:00).

Total shots — Seattle 11, Chivas USA 6. Shots on goal — Seattle 2, Chivas USA 3. Saves — Seattle 1, Chivas USA 3. Fouls — Seattle 6, Chivas USA 18. Offsides — Seattle 2, Chivas USA 5. Corner kicks — Seattle 2, Chivas USA 3. Cautions — Seattle, Montero 17:00, Scott, 20:00. Chivas USA, Trujillo 8:00, Lillingston, 56:00.

A — 15,463 (27,000).