Yannick Djalo scored the only goal of the game to hand the San Jose Earthquakes a narrow win over 10-man Chivas USA in the MLS.
The visitors could have taken the lead early on when Carlos Alvarez latched onto a loose ball in the box, but Jon Busch was able to make a good save with his feet at the near post.
Chivas were doing the majority of the pressing in the first half and should have gone ahead when Eric Avila lifted a cross into the area, but Erick Torres somehow fired wide from close range.
After the break, San Jose finally registered an effort at goal when Djalo picked up the ball on the right and cut inside onto his left foot, but his shot hit the side-netting.
The Earthquakes missed a sitter of their own when a cross from the right found JJ Koval unmarked six yards from goal, but he put his header over the bar.
San Jose did take the lead in the 66th minute when Shea Salinas lifted a cross to the back post, where Djalo met the ball on the volley and his effort beat Dan Kennedy to find the corner.
Matters got worse for Chivas when Kennedy was sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside of his area as Alan Gordon tried to knock the ball past him.
The visitors threatened late on as Leandro Barrera raided down the left flank, but his cross into the middle was turned wide by Adolfo Bautista.
Simon Sinclair
