What does it say about a team when they lose 4-0 and the best player on their field was their goalkeeper? It says that they're very bad, which Chivas USA is, and that their goalkeeper is astonishingly good, which Dan Kennedy is.
San Jose Earthquakes Vs. Chivas USA, 2012 MLS: Dan Kennedy Good, Rest Of Goats Not
It could also say that the team that won is very good, which the San Jose Earthquakes are. And with their win on Sunday the Quakes moved back into sole possession of first place in the Supporters' Shield race, three points clear of Kansas City as they try to win the trophy for the first time since 2005.
San Jose went in front after 11 minutes when Victor Bernardez hit a rocket of a free kick from 35 yards that skipped and found the back of the net. Kennedy was initially screened by his own wall and by the time he picked up the ball, he couldn't do more than get a finger to it before it was by him.
They doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Chivas inexplicably gave the ball away in their own end. Then they allowed Chris Wondolowski to come right through the middle and feed Simon Dawkins, who was unmarked in the middle of the field, 15 yards from goal. He didn't make a mistake from there and left Kennedy no chance with a clinical finish.
In the second half, Kennedy put on a show. He denied Marvin Chavez, who had a clear look at goal with a wonderful save diving back across his body to push it wide of the goal. He also made a sprawling save of what appeared to be a a sure Steven Lenhart as part of his night, when he repeatedly hung out to dry.
Two free kicks got past Kennedy in the second half. The first was a brilliant strike by Ramiro Corrales in the 71st minutes and then another by Corrales 10 minutes later when Kennedy was setting up his wall and everyone except Corrales thought that they had to wait on the referee's whistle sealed it.
In the end, it was a very good San Jose team against a very bad Chivas team and the scoreline showed it. What it didn’t show was that the gap between them could have been much larger if not for the one man to show up for the Goats, as he has all year -- Dan Kennedy.
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