Paulo Nagamura scored his team leading third goal of the season, on an assist by Sacha Kljestan, leading Chivas USA to a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, Saturday night, at The Home Depot Center.

In a low scoring defensive battle, Chivas Head Coach Preki, was impressed with his teams work rate. “I think the group played very hard, they were very organized and disciplined. They work hard for each other. You know what I always say, this group knows how to work for each other and I give them full credit. We’re happy with a win.”

Real Head Coach, Jason Kreis, sent his team out in a defensive 4-2-3-1. The lone forward Yura Movsisyan created several problems for the Red and Whites rearguard in the opening minutes of the game.

In the seventh minute Movsisyan went down in the box after colliding with Chivas defender Mariano Trujillo, but referee, Hilario Grajeda ignored the pleas for a spot kick. Minutes later, Movsisyan almost got the better of defender Jonathan Bornstein but at the crucial moment he lost his footing and the chance was gone.

Real were content to sit deep and soak up the pressure as The Red and Whites started to take control of the game.Kljestan almost scored as he slid into Salt Lake goalkeeper Chris Seitz, who was injured on the play resulting with Kljestan getting a yellow card. The yellow card will cost Chivas as it means Kljestan will now miss next weekend’s game versus D.C. United for yellow card accumulation.

Chivas continued to press with Eduardo Lillingston and Justin Braun coming close. Movsisyan and Will Johnson also had chances for the visitors to close out the first half.

Ten minutes into the second half Chivas finally got on the board. Trujillo’s cross was deflected to Kljestan. His header found Nagamura arriving at the top of the box. The diminutive Brazilian hit a thunderous volley that deflected off of Kyle Beckerman’s head giving goalkeeper Seitz no chance.

Chivas goalkeeper, Zach Thornton, pulled off a great save from Javier Morales, midway through the half, to record his League leading sixth shutout of the season and the 64th of his career, moving him just one behind shutout leader, San Jose’s Joe Cannon.

With 15 minutes to go Kreis made two attacking changes, bringing on Fabian Espinosa and Andy Williams in place of the tiring Movsisyan and defensive midfielder Clint Mathis.

Now with Johnson, Williams and Robbie Findley as a triple spearhead, Real were pushing hard for the equalizer, and they almost got it in the 78th minute as Johnson got free at the far post but hit his shot well over the bar.

With their commitment to the attack Salt Lake were leaving gaps in their defensive area and Chivas almost made them pay. Kljestan hit a rocket from just outside the box that Seitz did well to deflect over the bar.

Jesse Marsch then found Maykel Galindo open with a sweet diagonal ball over the top of the Real backline, but Seitz again made a heroic stop from point blank range.

First place in the MLS with a 7-1-1 record (22 points) Chivas will now host second place D.C. United, 3-1-5 (14 points) next Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.

Match Facts

Real Salt Lake (3-4-1) vs. Chivas USA (7-1-1)
May 9, 2009 — The Home Depot Center

Scoring Summary:
CHV — Paulo Nagamura 3 (Sacha Kljestan 1) 54

Lineups:
Real Salt Lake — Chris Seitz, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert, Kyle Beckerman, Raphael Cox (Robbie Findley 67), Clint Mathis (Andy Williams 75), Javier Morales, Will Johnson, Yura Movsisyan (Fabian Espindola 75),

Substitutes Not Used: Jean Alexandre, Tony Beltran, Ned Grabavoy, Kyle Reynish

Chivas USA — Zach Thornton, Mariano Trujillo, Carey Talley, Shavar Thomas, Jonathan Bornstein, Sacha Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Bojan Stepanovic (Maykel Galindo 58), Justin Braun (Atiba Harris 82), Eduardo Lillingston (Sasha Victorine 73),

Substitutes Not Used: Chukwudi Chijindu, Jim Curtin, Gerson Mayen, Lance Parker

Misconduct Summary:
CHV — Sacha Kljestan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 25
RSL — Jamison Olave (caution; Persistent Infringement) 32
CHV — Eduardo Lillingston (caution; Reckless Foul) 45
RSL — Kyle Beckerman (caution; Reckless Foul) 58
CHV — Maykel Galindo (caution; Reckless Foul) 66

Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee’s Assistants: Frank Anderson; David Bragg
4th official: Ricardo Salazar
time of game: 1:52
attendance: 13,421
weather: Clear -and- 63 degrees