First XI: Septembers to remember

Well, here we go again, down the MLS stretch toward the postseason. This week, First XI takes a look at the last XI MLS stretch runs and what teams took control of their seasons as the leaves began to turn.

11 years ago: We all remember the Colorado Rapids, shocking the league in the playoffs and making a run to the final against all odds. But who recalls that the Rapids went completely in the tank over the final month of the '97 season? On August 31, the Rapids got pounded by Dallas 4-1 and followed that up with a home loss to Kansas City, a shutout loss at LA, a 2-1 home loss to the San Jose Clash (Eric Wynalda with the game-winner), and a 5-2 loss at Kansas City. It was not until their final game of the season that the Rapids rebounded, winning 3-1 at San Jose on goals by Paul Bravo, Peter Vermes and Marcelo Balboa, which must've set Mooch Myernick and the boys right just in time.

10 years ago: It was a loss, not a victory, that motivated the Chicago Fire down the stretch of their inaugural season. Playing in Dallas, the Fire and Burn -- who were already developing an intense rivalry -- looked all set to go to a shootout to decide a 2-2 draw. However, with just 15 seconds to go on the official scoreboard clock, Burn 'keeper Mark Dodd was able to find link-man Leonel Alvarez who found Oscar Pareja who simply played one last ball behind the Fire defense. A Hail Mary that was answered by Jorge Rodriguez who beat Zach Thornton just before time expired. The Fire used the loss as motivation down the stretch as they finished strong and took the double.

9 years ago: On the final day of the regular season, the Burn's Jason Kreis became the league's first-ever 15-15 man, with two goals and an assist as Dallas defeated Los Angeles 4-3 at the Cotton Bowl. It was the Burn's fourth consecutive September victory and helped propel them into the playoffs, where they'd take out the defending champion Fire in a memorable three-game series.

8 years ago: Perhaps motivated by coming up short in 1999, the 2000 Chicago Fire closed the season in strong fashion, winning all three of their September games, including a season-closing 3-2 road win against Columbus (Mike Sorber providing the winner in the 90th minute) that secured the Fire home-field advantage for the playoffs. The Fire used Soldier Field to their advantage in both their first-round series victory over New England and their conference final triumph against the MetroStars.

7 years ago: While the league shut down for 11 days after the events of September 11, the upstart San Jose Earthquakes were able to find the form that would lead them to the first of many championships. The playoffs would start in late September that year and the Quakes hit the ground running, storming past Columbus in two games before pulling off a stunning upset of the Miami Fusion and an MLS Cup title-clinching victory over the Galaxy.

6 years ago: It was perhaps the greatest charge of them all. All but dead as August drew to a close, the Revs made a coaching change that changed the course of an organization forever. Steve Nicol took over for Fernando Clavijo and New England went 4-0-1 down the stretch, stole the Eastern Conference title, and rode the wave all the way to the MLS Cup Final. The rest is history, folks, and September has become the Revolution's month. And, I would be remiss if I did not mention the amazing goal-scoring exploits of Brian Kamler during that 2002 run. The man scored one great goal after another for a month.

5 years ago: The Revs went 7-1-1 down the September/October stretch a year after Nicol took over, fully illustrating the coach's gift for good timing. In 2003, that final push was not enough to help the Revs catch the red-hot Fire in the Eastern standings, but the Revs did serve notice that their push in 2002 was not just a flash in the pan.

4 years ago: D.C. United. It was a long road back to the top for D.C. United, and the final push might well have begun on Sept. 11, 2004, when Alecko Eskandarian led D.C. to a 3-0 victory against Dallas and set them on a path to the MLS Cup. From that point on, first-year coach Peter Nowak's team seemed on a mission, and it did not end until they'd blazed through the MetroStars, New England and Kansas City on their way to a title.

3 years ago: The 2005 season included one of the most competitive stretch drives in league history as a number of teams had to battle down to the wire just to earn a spot in the postseason. The MetroStars, who were on their way to the second-best point total (47 points) in club history were unable to wrap up a playoff slot until the final day of the season, when they defeated Chivas USA 2-0 at the Home Depot Center behind a heroic performance by Tony Meola. To get to 47 points, the Metros needed to go 4-2-2 in September and October, and needed a miracle 5-4 victory against New England on Sept. 17 (a game won by Youri Djorkaeff, who scored from an impossible angle), in what goes down in my book as one of the greatest regular-season games in league history.

2 years ago: Once again, the Revolution owned September and October, going 5-1 down the stretch to enter the season on a high note. Needless to say, this is more than a trend for Nicol, it's a tradition.

1 year ago: After a 1-0 loss to the Red Bulls, the Fire were a disappointing 7-10-5 and on the outside looking in at the postseason. That was when new head coach Juan Carlos Osorio succeeded in making the Fire a tough out. The Fire did not lose another game the rest of the regular season, going 3-0-5 to find their way into the playoffs where they even managed to pull off a first-round upset over D.C. United.

Chivas tie Tauro FC, lose aggregate

CARSON, Calif. -- Luis Moreno's 63rd-minute goal was enough for Tauro FC to sink Chivas USA's CONCACAF Champions League dreams as the Panamanian side tied the hosts 1-1 at The Home Depot Center on Tuesday.

Moreno clinched the series with his goal as Chivas USA's Champions League effort ended at the preliminary stage, eliminated 3-1 on aggregate after Tauro's 2-0 win in Panama City last week.

Roberto Nurse scored late in the first half after Chivas earlier missed a penalty, then the Red-and-White were left with 10 men after Jonathan Bornstein was sent off after picking up his second yellow card six minutes into the second half. Justin Braun nearly put a goal away in the 12th minute but Tauro's defense stood firm. Sacha Kljestan knocked in a corner kick that Tauro goalkeeper Willington Dominguez tried to parry away. The ball instead fell to Braun who immediately fired a shot on goal. Although Dominguez was well off his line, defender Leonel Parris leapt and headed the ball over the crossbar.

Chivas USA squandered a great opportunity in the 22nd minute. Roberto Nurse darted into the penalty area but Tauro's Dominguez knocked Nurse down. Referee Mauricio Navarro immediately pointed to the spot and Kljestan walked to the spot. Kljestan though hit the ball right to Dominguez and the Panamanian goalkeeper easily knocked the ball away.

Harris nearly broke the scoring drought in the 36th minute but he slammed a header from inside the six-yard box off the crossbar.

Moments later, Jonathan Bornstein picked up Chivas USA's first yellow card of the match.

It was Nurse who finally got the first goal of the match. In the 42nd minute, Bornstein whipped a cross into the area. Braun knocked the ball down and Nurse, with his back to the goal, spun and fired a shot on goal, and tucked it into the inside of the net.

For Nurse, the goal was his first in a Chivas USA uniform. It also marked a bit of a special moment for him. The Mexico City native was born to a Mexican mother and Panamanian father. Nurse did not play in last week's match in Panama so Tuesday was his first opportunity to play against the team from his father's homeland.

The tide changed somewhat early in the second half. Jonathan Bornstein picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 51st minute and Chivas USA were left with 10 men. Four minutes later, Ante Razov and Alecko Eskandarian replaced Nurse and Braun.

With a man up, Tauro FC began to push forward and break out of their defensive shell. Their efforts paid off in the 63rd minute. Moreno danced around Chivas USA's defense and banged a shot off the left post. The ball rolled along the goal line but before Francisco Mendoza could get to it, the ball dribbled across.

Tauro FC celebrated like madmen. The entire team, including nearly all of the players on the bench, celebrated near the left corner as a pocket of Tauro FC supporters erupted in a frenzy in the stands.

Mendoza nearly had a late goal but his 85th-minute shot caromed off a Tauro defender and missed an open net by inches as it rolled just wide of the right post.

Nicol weighing Revs' strike options

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The face of the New England Revolution is a bit askew heading into the team's CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round second-leg encounter with Trinidadian side Joe Public FC.

Revs striker Taylor Twellman took a blow from Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin after heading home the opening goal in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Los Angeles.

"He's got five stitches in his face," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said.

Those five stitches and concerns about a possible concussion will keep Twellman out of the game, leaving Nicol without a recognized striker in his squad.

"It makes it extremely difficult," Nicol said. "With the size of the roster we have with the number of games we've got, that was always going to be a concern that we were going to pick up injuries. That's what's happened. There's nothing we can do about it. We just have to make the best of it."

Making of the best of it also took a hit when potential striking deputy Steve Ralston was ruled out with back spasms. That leaves Nicol even more starved of options with Khano Smith likely the best option amongst the midfielders who could possibly shift up front.

A dearth of attacking options means Nicol wants his team to focus on keeping things tight at the back and figuring out a way to get a goal off a set piece. The Revolution lost 2-1 in the first leg one week ago in Trinidad & Tobago.

"One-nil puts us through," Nicol said. "We have to make sure we don't lose a goal. The first thing we have to do is make sure we are tight at the back. We have to try to figure out how we'll get the ball in the back of the net."

Keeping Joe Public off the scoreboard is by no means assured. The T&T Pro League side has quick players that caused the Revolution defenders problems in the first leg.

"I don't think we underestimated them, but I think they were better than we anticipated," Revs defender Chris Albright said. "They have some guys up front who can do some damage. It could have been a worse result. We were lucky to get out of there at 2-1."

Revs defender Michael Parkhurst said the travel took its toll.

"They're going to have to do the traveling," Parkhurst said. "That's the biggest thing. They're looking at 13- or 14-hour travel days to Trinidad and back. It takes a lot out of you."

Fatigue is commonplace at this point during the season, a point that Albright noted won't go away if the team can advance.

"I think we're running on tired legs at this point," Albright said. "It's just about recovery one day, preparation for the next. We'll be on that schedule for a while if we advance. We need to give an honest effort and give everything we have. I'd like to think we can get the job done."

It might not prove a neutral's delight, but Parkhurst believes that his team will do enough to advance.

"Pretty doesn't get you anything," Parkhurst said. "It's all about results. Even though guys are banged up and tired, we're going out there to get a victory. We don't have to play well as long as we score more goals than them, we'll be all right."

Rapids riding high after road win

FRISCO, Texas -- The Colorado Rapids' recent playoff success against FC Dallas has been well-documented. However, that success hadn't carried over to the regular season until Thursday, when the Rapids got a goal from Mike Petke in the 60th minute to hand the Hoops a 1-0 defeat at Pizza Hut Park.

It was Colorado's first win in Dallas since May 5, 2001 at the Cotton Bowl. It was also only the second win away from home for the Rapids this year, the first coming April 12, when they prevailed 1-0 against New England at Gillette Stadium. Since then, Colorado has gone 0-7-2 away from Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

"Well, after very bad away results over the last few weeks and months, I thought it was great certainly to get on track again and win a game away from home," said Rapids interim coach Gary Smith. "I did feel that the first hour of the game, we played as well as we have done away from home. We kept the ball a lot better than we have done for a period and showed few nerves. A lot of the boys looked as they had come here to prove a point."

Petke's goal came after the veteran defender was left unmarked completely unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box to head home a well-placed corner from Terry Cooke into the far side of the net for the eventual game-winner.

Smith couldn't say enough good things about Cooke, who returned to the field after missing last week's 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake with a hamstring injury. The assist was his team-leading eighth of the year.

"Terry's delivery, as everybody in and around the league knows, is as good as anybody's," Smith said. "We know that from good areas that we're going to get great delivery when he's around. Over a period of time now, we've worked hard on the training field at being more aggressive and attacking the ball to get more out of set plays."

The Rapids coach was at a loss when asked to explain how Petke was so wide open on the goal.

"It was probably a training ground move," Smith said. "I'm taking full credit for it. I don't know. The reality is that in the penalty area there, there is a lot of jostling. The big fellas are trying to find some space. Terry can hit a sixpence and big Mike did enough to win the game for us."

Several Rapids players agreed that the win was huge in keeping them alive in the Western Conference playoff picture. With the win, Colorado moved from last place in the West into a tie for third with Chivas USA, though the remainder of the conference has still to play over the weekend.

"It was very important," Cooke said. "In both halves, we shaded and dominated. In the first half, we did that for 25 minutes. When we scored the goal and went up, we went more defensive. They were pushing more people forward and getting more free kicks and corners. Tonight we got through it very well."

Petke agreed. "This is a close to a must-win game as I've been part of in 11 years in this league. If we didn't win tonight, it's still going to be an uphill climb but if we didn't, it was dire. My goal, I was just fortunate enough to lose my mark. Anyone could have done it and the ball was put right on my head. That's one of the easiest scores I've had in my career. I didn't do anything special. I just got open and was able to put it away. It helped us get the result tonight and I'm definitely excited about that."

The veteran defender also liked how much heart he and his teammates showed when FCD put them under considerable pressure late in the game.

"That's typical soccer when you're down a goal late in the game," Petke said. "No matter who it is, you know they're going to pressure you and throw everything at you. We handled it well to get the result. (Preston) Burpo had a couple of great saves and fortunately, they had a couple of misses. They really put pressure on it and we handled it for the most part."

For Cooke, the result came down to something that hasn't been on Colorado's side for much of the season.

"The main thing tonight was luck," he said. "It was on our side tonight. We've had some bad results in our last couple games. Tonight is the first time we have been shown a little bit of luck all season. It's very important that we got three points because it gave us a shot of confidence again."

Smith also heaped considerable praise on several other players who had key roles in the win.

"Along with many of the players that you might see in that changing room, Cory (Gibbs) is moving along nicely in a positive direction," he said. "His injuries over the last few years have hindered what might have been otherwise been a good international career. We're delighted to have him on board."

The Rapids coach had similar comments about captain Pablo Mastroeni, who played 52 minutes before leaving in the second half for John DiRaimondo.

"The captain has got the heart of the lion," Smith said. "He came off 10 days ago with a hamstring injury and has worked incredibly hard to get fit. We only got 50 minutes out of him today. Fortunately, he's still in one piece and will live to fight another day. What we got in that 50 minutes gave us a tremendous foundation to go on and win the game."

Still, in the end, Smith gave his players all the credit.

"While I'm in here talking, here maybe able to offer my opinion and maybe taking a little credit for what's happening, those players in there are the ones who have won a very, very important game of football for us and one that puts us into the mix again," he said.

United win U.S. Open Cup over Charleston

WASHINGTON -- D.C. United outlasted a dogged challenge from the Charleston Battery in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday night, simultaneously ending the USL-1 club's Cinderella tourney run and a four-year trophy drought of their own with a 2-1 victory at atmospheric RFK Stadium.

It was a Brazilian brace that won the affair for the Black-and-Red at the outset of each half, as Luciano Emilio found the net in the fourth minute and Fred returned from injury to notch the game-winner in the 50th minute. But the result was in doubt until the very end thanks to a composed performance from the Battery, who matched United in terms of possession and invention only to fall short in the final reckoning.

With many fans still finding their seats, United lunged into an early lead thanks to the savvy finishing instincts of Emilio, the prolific striker whose participation in this match was left in doubt by a groin strain sustained in Saturday's league actions.

D.C. captain Jaime Moreno began the play with a nifty backheel to Santino Quaranta, whose run into the box was blocked by Battery defender and United alumnus John Wilson. But Emilio was first to the loose ball and he did not waste his look at goal, firing a shot into the upper corner past Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock to send RFK into ecstasy, with smoke and song quickly bursting forth from the United supporters' groups along the east touchline.

Yet that turned out to be the Brazilian's first and only contribution of the night, as his groin troubles flared up again within minutes and rendered him unable to continue. D.C. boss Tom Soehn had to make the early substitution and brought Rod Dyachenko on in Emilio's place.

If the home fans were entertaining any thoughts of an early rout, their hopes were quickly dashed in the 10th minute as the underdogs struck back with a stunningly swift move down the right flank that caught United left back Marc Burch flat-footed to level matters at 1-1.

Nelson Akwari's perceptive long ball out of the back released Chris Williams, who turned Burch inside before backheeling a simple layoff for Ian Fuller. The Charleston striker strode up to blast a cool finish that gave Louis Crayton no chance as it arrowed into the net just inside the right post.

In the 14th minute, Quaranta drifted inside to set Guerrero loose in the Battery box with a deft through ball into space behind Kevin Nylen, but D.C.'s Honduran winger could not find the near post, hammering his shot into the outside of the twine.

But six minutes later it was the visitors who came even closer as Lazo Alavanja went agonizingly close to grabbing a shock lead. The former United man's perceptive diagonal run released him into space along the left channel, where he clipped a low shot across the face of Crayton's goal that left the Liberian a bystander only to clang off the base of the far post and bounce away.

Alert lateral movement allowed Moreno to break into acres of space down the D.C. left and dribble into the Charleston box in the 27th minute, but with Hudock perched at the near post the Bolivian elected to go for goal rather than square to Dyachenko. Hudock read his intentions and got low to palm his angled shot and snuff out the danger.

Having initially looked overwhelmed, Charleston were growing in confidence with each passing minute, showing every intention to go blow-for-blow with their MLS opponents. Matters got worse for D.C. some five minutes from halftime when Joe Vide had to limp off with an apparent muscle strain, prompting Soehn to bring Fred, recently recovered from a hamstring injury, on at right midfield as Quaranta continued to man the attacking midfield role.

The Brazilian's arrival quickly gave United a spark and he should have put his side ahead on the stroke of halftime when Moreno played him in with a delightful lob over Akwari. But Fred's chip over the advancing Hudock spun inches high and wide of the target and the Battery were let off the hook.

Moments later a pinpoint cross from Guerrero gave Quaranta a wide-open header deep in the Charleston box, but the Baltimore native badly mis-hit his effort and Hudock was not troubled.

Fred was showing no ill effects from what had initially been diagnosed as a serious hamstring strain barely two weeks ago, and he resumed his good work some five minutes into the second stanza with a well-taken goal to push United back into the lead.

Under heavy pressure in his own half, Clyde Simms played what first looked to be a conservative clearance down the right side, but when Dyachenko dummied the ball, it created a brief hesitation among the Charleston defense that allowed Fred to surge clear into the box. Advancing on an exposed Hudock, the Brazilian waited for the Battery netminder to commit, then slapped home a calm finish for a 2-1 advantage.

But the USL-1 representatives, spearheaded by Alavanja, soon fashioned a response. A composed sequence of possession worked the D.C. defense back into their own box before Alonso set up Williams to send in a deflected cross from the right, and only Devon McTavish's late block kept Alavanja from leveling matters.

Crayton made an adventure of the ensuing corner kick, disappearing into a crowd of bodies before bobbling the ball on the doorstep with Alavanja lurking eagerly. But after a few dicey ricochets, Simms arrived to lump the ball away from danger.

Despite his undeniable potential, Dyachenko's uneven displays for United this season have thus far kept him from contributing to the campaign to the degree many would have expected. But on this evening the UNLV product was working hard to lead the line and craft an understanding with Moreno, and shortly after the hour mark he came within a foot of creating a breathtaking third for D.C. as he took a pass from his strike partner some 19 yards out and curled a delicate lob towards the far post, only for the bid to drop just wide of the woodwork.

For his part, Moreno was producing yet another performance to turn the clock back, and his confidence was such that when he received a 77th-minute outlet pass with Charleston's defense pushed up to the midfield stripe, he tried to blow past Akwari with his 34-year-old legs -- but the big Texan matched his burst of speed to blunt the counterattack opportunity.

United were trying to keep hold of the ball to kill the clock and force the Battery to chase, but the red-clad lower division side remained energetic and were pouring forward with every possession, still keyed by Alonso and Alavanja but with second-half subs Aaron King and David Kenga adding speed and aggression to the mix.

Conversely, Soehn brought on playmaker Marcelo Gallardo in place of Dyachenko, essentially leaving Moreno alone up top as the home side looked for skill and composure in the center of the park. It all made for an unusual sight: a conservative-minded United squad sweating out a narrow result on their home turf with a USL-1 side breathing down their necks.

The Battery continued to ask questions of D.C. right down to the wire, and even had an apparent stoppage-time goal waved off for offside, but on this occasion Cinderella simply ran out of time. Referee Mark Geiger's full-time whistle brought forth a torrent of noise from the United faithful as their heroes took control of the Dewar Cup for the first time in 12 years with a 2-1 win.

Chivas USA struggling to finish

CARSON, Calif. -- Needing to win by three or more goals in order to advance to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, Chivas USA encountered quite a bit of interference against Tauro FC on Tuesday.

Referee Mauricio Navarro sent off Jonathan Bornstein early in the second half as the hosts were left with 10 men for 39 minutes. Tauro FC dropped numbers behind the ball throughout the match and pushed forward when the opportunities arose in the second half.

But ultimately, Chivas USA's players and coaches were left with one conclusion.

"We had many scoring opportunities but couldn't get it done," Roberto Nurse said. "We know there were refereeing errors but we were our own worst enemies."

Chivas USA and Tauro FC tied 1-1 at The Home Depot Center, a result that eliminates the Red-and-White from the CONCACAF Champions League and sends the Panamanian club through to the tournament proper.

Tauro FC beat Chivas USA 2-0 in Panama a week earlier and won the series, 3-1 on aggregate. Luis Moreno scored the visitors' goal in the 63rd minute while Nurse scored Chivas USA's tally in the 42nd minute.

Chivas USA, though, had 20 shots and 14 on goal and forced Tauro goalkeeper Willington Dominguez to make 11 saves -- including one on a penalty kick.

"It seems like now we have an incredibly tough time finding the net," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "We must have had 15 opportunities and we finally squeezed one goal tonight. We have to find ways to score goals."

The goal-scoring follies began early for Chivas USA. Dominguez tripped Nurse in the penalty area in the 20th minute and the hosts were awarded with a penalty kick. Preki, though, said more should have been done on the play.

"As far as I know, last guy, penalty, red card," Preki said.

Sacha Kljestan stepped to the spot and took the penalty kick but knocked it straight to Dominguez.

"I had decided to shoot right and at the last second the 'keeper moved that way and I should have gone left because he did move a little bit that way," Kljestan said. "But I still thought I could get underneath him."

Later in the half, Atiba Harris slammed a shot off the crossbar as Chivas USA appeared well on their way to a luckless effort. Nurse tried to change that though when he scored in the 42nd minute. Bornstein knocked in a cross that Justin Braun headed down towards Nurse, who turned and fired a shot past Dominguez.

Early in the half, though, fortunes changed for both clubs. Bornstein picked up his second yellow card of the match and was sent off just six minutes into the second half.

"In the beginning of the second half we get a soft call on Bornstein and red card against us. I'm very, very, very disappointed that we had difficulties dealing with the referee," Preki said. "You would think that when we played here we would at least get an even call but right now we can't catch a break."

Ante Razov and Alecko Eskandarian replaced Braun and Harris a few minutes later.

But it was the visitors who finally broke through. Moreno danced around Chivas USA defender Jim Curtin and knocked a shot off the left post that barely trickled over the line.

Kljestan was replaced in the 65th minute as Preki said the captain was not sharp in the match.

"I don't think he was playing good," Preki said. "Nobody is untouchable. You've got to come when you put that shirt on. When you step on the field, you've got to play for your team."

Kljestan, who leaves for Miami and the U.S. national team early Wednesday, said he was indeed focused on the match.

"I don't think so," Kljestan responded when told of Preki's comments. "My focus right now is with Chivas. I wish I could have done better to help my team."

Ultimately, though, Chivas USA were not good enough to beat a team that Preki said they should have beaten "by four or five goals." The Red-and-White thus now have only the regular season to worry about.

"We've got to make a run for the championship," Kljestan said. "That's all we've got left."

Carver furious over defensive lapse

CARSON, Calif. -- The way Toronto FC coach John Carver saw it, his side played defense with a noose around their necks. And it was goalkeeper Greg Sutton of all people who forced the club to ultimately hang itself.

Sutton had a ball slip through his fingers and across the goal line deep in second-half stoppage time as Toronto FC lost 2-1 to Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.

"You can't defend like that. I thought it was going to come earlier," Carver said. "It was suicide defending and that's not good enough."

Toronto FC fell to 2-9-0 on the road and 7-10-5 overall. While the attack struggled on Saturday, one goal may have been enough to pull out a result.

But it was Atiba Harris who struck late. Sacha Kljestan took a corner kick and found Harris in front of the goal. Harris fired a shot on goal that had just enough behind it to get past Sutton's fingers and across the goal line.

Carver said the entire sequence leading up to the goal was inexcusable -- that Sutton played a key role in the breakdown made things worse.

"It was crazy, wasn't it? There was seconds left," Carver said. "We have the ball with the goalkeeper. He then rolls it out to one of our midfield players who was running with his back to the play. It ends up going out for a corner and it's in the back of the net. What is frustrating is that it comes from a guy who is an experienced player, an international... He's made some good saves in the game that's important. But with his experience I expected him just to keep it and then stick it in behind, we see the game out, we get the draw and it's better than losing all three points."

Perhaps Toronto FC players had just three additional minutes left in their bodies, so when the match went into the fourth minute of stoppage time they could not respond.

"It was a tough way to lose it in the last couple of seconds," Toronto defender Tyrone Marshall said. "I think we're trying to defend to the best of our abilities but that's just a little lapse in concentration. It's one of those things when you're fighting and scrapping and not an ounce of energy left. It's just one of those things that happened. We fought to the bitter end and we left everything on the pitch."

Jim Brennan had put Toronto FC ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute, but even that bit of fortune -- it was just Toronto's 12th road goal of the season -- was met with misfortune.

"They came down and the ball I guess went in between one of the player's legs," Marshall said about the pass that set up Alecko Eskandrian's equalizer. "I don't think it was a lucky pass got in between a player's legs and he got into a good position and he knocked it in."

Chivas USA, though, had multiple scoring opportunities from then on. Eskandarian had two chances that he failed to put away while Justin Braun had a late breakaway Sutton saved.

The defensive effort was poor as the match spiraled out of control, Carver said.

"I've been crying out for weeks and weeks and weeks that we need some strikers but you can't defend like that," he said. "That was disastrous. For me, that's the worst we've played since I've been here."

Toronto FC will host Chivas USA Saturday at BMO Field but the lineup won't look anything like Saturday's as 10 players will go away to their respective national teams.

"Fortunately from their point-of-view they all go off on international duty now," Carver said, "because if they'd have to be there, they'd go in Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday working on defending. I'm absolutely furious."